A grand jury in Texas has indicted an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent over an incident that left immigrant Miguel Parra Hernandez with serious injuries. The agent, Mario Alberto Morales, faces a second degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced the indictment on Friday, October 30. The case follows 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 marks a major step in the case. It also raises questions about the limits of legal protection for federal law enforcement officers. Morales has denied that he intentionally hit Parra Hernandez, while local officials say the case deserves a full legal review.
According to ICE, the incident happened as officers tried to arrest another man. The agency said Parra Hernandez ran in front of Morales’ vehicle and claimed the agent was leaving after an attempted traffic stop. However, immigrant rights groups and Parra Hernandez’s lawyer have challenged that account.
Surveillance video appeared to show Morales driving toward Parra Hernandez as the man ran away from the vehicle and into a parking lot. The video has become an important part of the public debate over what happened.
Teare said the indictment sends a clear message that federal officers are not above the law. He said an ICE badge does not give an officer the right to injure people or violate their constitutional rights. He added that the case should seek justice for Parra Hernandez and his family.
Morales’ lawyer, David Lindenmuth, said his client plans to surrender to authorities on Monday. Lindenmuth argued that the collision was an accident and said Morales did not mean to hit the man. He also described the case as a political prosecution.
The lawyer said the incident was caused by a person who fled from law enforcement. His comments directly challenge the claims made by the district attorney’s office.
ICE also criticized the indictment. A spokesperson called it a political stunt by local politicians and argued that federal officers carrying out their duties should be investigated only by federal agencies.
Teare rejected that claim, saying it was false to suggest his office could not investigate the incident. The disagreement could lead to further legal disputes over the authority of state and local prosecutors to bring charges against federal officers.
The federal prosecutor responsible for the region also criticized the case. US Attorney Aaron Reitz said he saw no basis for federal charges against Morales at this time. However, he did not directly claim that the local district attorney lacked the power to prosecute.
Reitz accused Teare of pursuing a political case against an ICE agent while failing to bring charges quickly in another investigation. That case concerns the July shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent in Houston.
Teare has said the two cases share some features but also have important differences. He noted that body cameras were worn in the Salgado case, which may affect the available evidence and the time needed to investigate.
During Friday’s press conference, Teare played parts of a 911 call linked to 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’s lawyer, Kim Bruno, said her client had not yet been told about the indictment on Friday afternoon. She also said he remained in ICE custody after the collision and had suffered extensive injuries.
Bruno said it was unclear whether Parra Hernandez would walk again. She spoke with him for three hours on Thursday and said he feared for his life.
Immigrant rights group FIEL has called for his immediate release from ICE custody. The group says his injuries and ongoing detention raise serious concerns about his care and treatment.
The case comes amid wider disputes over whether federal officers can face charges in state courts. Indictments of federal law enforcement officers are rare and have led to legal fights in other states. Federal officials have argued that officers may have legal protection when acting within their duties, but the extent of that protection remains contested.
Several Houston-area Democrats praised the indictment and called for further accountability. Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia said the case also raised questions about ICE leadership, training, screening and supervision.
Representatives Sylvia Garcia, Christian Menefee and Al Green, along with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Lesley Briones, also criticized the agent’s alleged actions. They called for stronger oversight and renewed attention to the Salgado shooting.
Morales is accused of aggravated assault, but the charge is an allegation, not a finding of guilt. The case will now move through the legal process, where prosecutors and the defense will present their arguments.
