A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has been indicted on a felony charge in Texas after prosecutors released disturbing video showing an SUV striking and running over a man during an immigration enforcement operation in Houston.

The officer, identified as 33-year-old Mario Alberto Morales, faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following the October 10 incident involving 48-year-old Miguel Parra Hernandez, a Mexican construction worker.

A Harris County grand jury returned the indictment on October 30. Prosecutors allege that Morales deliberately steered his vehicle toward Hernandez as he ran away, causing serious injuries to his legs.

The case has attracted national attention because criminal prosecutions of federal immigration officers for actions taken while on duty are relatively uncommon.

What Happened During the Houston Incident?

The incident occurred on October 10 in northwest Houston, near Clay Road and Texas 6.

According to investigators, ICE officers were pursuing a vehicle when two men got out and ran in different directions. Morales was driving an unmarked SUV when he pursued Hernandez through a parking lot.

Surveillance footage released by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office appears to show the SUV turning toward Hernandez before striking him.

Prosecutors say the vehicle knocked him down and ran over his legs, leaving him with a broken leg, a fractured ankle and other injuries.

The Associated Press reported that Hernandez required multiple surgeries and remained in federal custody while receiving rehabilitation treatment.

Bodycam Footage Raises Questions About the Collision

The release of body-camera footage and a 911 recording has become a central part of the investigation.

In the footage, Morales exits the SUV after the collision and approaches Hernandez, who is lying on the ground in visible pain.

Hernandez can be heard telling the officer that he had been run over.

Morales is also heard saying, “I was coming in and I hit him with the car.”

During the 911 call, Morales described the encounter to a dispatcher and said Hernandez had hit his vehicle.

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said the video evidence contradicts ICE’s initial account of how the collision happened.

Read the Associated Press report on the indictment and released footage.

Prosecutors Say the Vehicle Was Used as a Weapon

Harris County prosecutors charged Morales with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, alleging that he used his SUV to strike Hernandez.

District Attorney Sean Teare said the evidence was among the clearest his office had examined in a case of this nature.

The charge is a second-degree felony under Texas law and carries a potential prison sentence of two to 20 years if the defendant is convicted.

However, the indictment represents a formal criminal accusation, not a finding of guilt. The prosecution must establish its case in court.

ICE Disputes the Allegations

ICE has rejected the allegation that Morales intentionally struck Hernandez.

The agency previously said Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle during the pursuit and described claims of an intentional collision as false.

Morales’s attorney, David Lindenmuth, has also denied that his client committed a crime. He characterized the prosecution as politically motivated and said the officer’s actions should not be treated as criminal conduct.

The competing accounts are expected to become central issues in the legal proceedings.

Read Reuters’ report on the indictment and ICE’s response.

Questions Emerge About ICE’s Intended Target

The investigation has also raised questions about the person ICE originally said it was pursuing.

Following the incident, the agency identified Jose Mendoza-Cervantes as the intended target of the operation.

However, investigators later found information indicating that the man identified by ICE may actually have been Jose Hector Jimenez, who died in 2017.

According to reporting by the Houston Chronicle, Hernandez’s family and an immigrant advocacy organization also questioned the identification.

Harris County prosecutors said they found no evidence establishing that Hernandez and the individual ICE identified as its target had been travelling together.

The discrepancy has added another dimension to the investigation.

Read the Houston Chronicle’s detailed investigation and timeline.

Who Is Miguel Parra Hernandez?

Hernandez is a 48-year-old Mexican construction worker who had lived in the Houston area for approximately three decades, according to local reporting.

His family and representatives said he had no criminal record.

The collision left him with serious injuries, including a broken leg and damage requiring extensive medical treatment.

His continued recovery has been complicated by his immigration detention and the need for rehabilitation.

A Rare Criminal Case Involving a Federal Immigration Officer

The indictment is drawing attention to the question of how federal law-enforcement officers are held accountable when their actions are alleged to violate criminal law.

ICE has argued that local authorities do not have the authority to investigate federal officers acting within their official duties.

Harris County prosecutors, however, have proceeded with the criminal case following their investigation.

The incident has also renewed discussion about the use of force during immigration enforcement operations and the relationship between federal agencies and local prosecutors.

What Happens Next?

Morales was not in custody when the indictment was announced, and authorities said an arrest warrant would be issued.

The criminal proceedings will determine whether prosecutors can prove that the officer committed aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

For Hernandez, the immediate concern remains his physical recovery.

The released footage has brought significant attention to the case, but the final legal outcome will depend on the evidence presented in court.

Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, The Texas Tribune and Houston Chronicle.

This article reflects reporting available through October 31, 2026. Mario Alberto Morales has been indicted but not convicted. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.