A Texas grand jury has indicted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Mario Alberto Morales over an incident that left immigrant Miguel Parra Hernandez with serious injuries. The charge is aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony under Texas law.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced the indictment on Friday, October 30. The case stems from an incident on October 10, when Morales allegedly struck Parra Hernandez with a vehicle. The collision broke the man’s leg and ankle.
The indictment has raised questions about the conduct of federal immigration officers and the power of local authorities to hold them accountable. Morales has denied intentionally hitting Parra Hernandez. His lawyer says the collision was an accident and has called the case a political prosecution.
According to ICE, the incident happened while officers were trying to arrest another man. The agency said Parra Hernandez ran in front of Morales’ vehicle. It also claimed the agent was leaving after an attempted traffic stop.
However, immigrant rights groups and Parra Hernandez’s lawyer have disputed the agency’s account. Surveillance video appeared to show Morales driving toward Parra Hernandez as he ran away from the vehicle and into a parking lot. The video has added to public concern over the incident.
Teare said the indictment sends a message that federal officers must follow the law. He said an ICE badge does not give anyone the right to injure people or violate their constitutional rights. He also said he hopes the case brings justice to Parra Hernandez and his family.
Morales’ lawyer, David Lindenmuth, told local reporters that his client plans to surrender on Monday. Lindenmuth said Morales did not intend to hit Parra Hernandez. He argued that the collision was an accident caused by a person fleeing law enforcement.
The lawyer also described the case as politically driven. His comments reflect the growing dispute between local officials and federal authorities over the incident.
An ICE spokesperson called the indictment a political stunt by local politicians who support sanctuary policies. The agency also argued that federal officers acting as part of their duties should be investigated by federal agencies.
Teare rejected that claim. He said it was false to suggest that his office lacked the power to investigate the incident. The dispute may lead to further legal questions about whether state prosecutors can bring charges against federal officers.
US Attorney Aaron Reitz, whose office would handle any federal prosecution of Morales, also criticized the indictment. Reitz said he saw no basis for federal charges at this time. However, he did not directly state that Teare lacked the authority to pursue the state case.
Reitz accused Teare of seeking political attention by targeting a federal agent. He also criticized the district attorney’s office for not bringing charges sooner in another case involving an ICE officer.
That separate investigation concerns the July shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. Teare has said his office was nearing a decision in that case and preparing to present evidence to a grand jury.
The district attorney said the two investigations have some similarities but also differ in important ways. He pointed to the use of body cameras in the Salgado case as one factor that could affect the evidence available to investigators.
During Friday’s news conference, Teare played parts of a 911 call from the Parra Hernandez incident. In the recording, Morales can be heard saying that Parra Hernandez was fine and that he was trying to get around him.
Parra Hernandez remains in ICE custody, according to his lawyer. Kim Bruno said her client had not yet been informed about the indictment by Friday afternoon. She also said the collision caused extensive injuries and left uncertainty about whether he would ever walk again.
Bruno said she spoke with Parra Hernandez for three hours on Thursday. During that conversation, he told her that he feared for his life.
FIEL, an immigrant rights group, has called for Parra Hernandez’s immediate release. The group has raised concerns about his condition and his continued detention following the collision.
The indictment comes amid wider disputes over the legal protection available to federal officers. Such cases are rare and can lead to complex legal battles between state and federal authorities. Federal officials have argued that officers may have protection when acting within their official duties, but the limits of that protection remain disputed.
Several Houston-area Democrats praised the indictment and called for more accountability. Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia said the case also raised concerns about ICE leadership, training and supervision.
Congress members Sylvia Garcia, Christian Menefee and Al Green, along with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Lesley Briones, also criticized Morales’ alleged actions. They called for stronger oversight and further action in the Salgado shooting case.
Morales has been charged, but the indictment does not establish guilt. The case will now move through the legal process, where prosecutors and the defense will have the chance to present their evidence and arguments.
