Key facts
- A Texas prosecutor is considering felony assault charges against an ICE agent.
A Texas prosecutor is considering felony assault charges against an ICE agent who allegedly ran over a man with an SUV during an attempted traffic stop. The incident, captured on video, resulted in severe leg and hip injuries for the victim, Miguel Parra-Hernandez. The prosecutor cited the video as evidence of an intentional act, while ICE has called the allegations "reckless and false."
The case raises significant questions about law enforcement conduct, accountability, and the use of force during immigration enforcement operations. Potential felony charges against a federal agent could impact ICE's operational procedures and public trust, while also highlighting concerns over the safety of individuals encountered during such operations.
A Texas prosecutor is weighing felony assault charges against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer involved in an incident where a man was run over by an SUV. Sean Teare, the district attorney for Harris County, stated that video evidence of the event in west Houston on Saturday morning could support a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which carries a potential 20-year prison sentence.
Teare described the incident as an "intentional striking and running over of the person by the vehicle," a view he said was shared by "many other investigators" who had reviewed the footage. The injured man, Miguel Parra-Hernandez, remained hospitalized with serious hip and leg injuries that his representatives indicated would necessitate future surgeries.
ICE acknowledged that Parra-Hernandez was not the intended target of the traffic stop but stated he was in the U.S. illegally. The video reportedly shows the officer pursuing Parra-Hernandez in an unmarked SUV, seemingly in violation of new guidelines for traffic stops. Teare's office is investigating the incident with the Harris County sheriff's office.
According to Teare, ICE has been uncooperative, denying investigators access to the vehicle's data recorder. He expressed disbelief that the ICE agent drove the vehicle away from the scene before deputies arrived, stating that in his 20-year career, he had never encountered such an action. Teare also noted that two other individuals were in the back of the ICE vehicle at the time of the pursuit, and his office is working to ensure they remain available as witnesses.
ICE has disputed the allegations of intentional striking, calling them "reckless and false" and "disgusting smears." The agency stated its officers uphold high standards of professionalism. Parra-Hernandez's lawyer and an immigrant advocacy group stated that he had no criminal record and fled because he did not recognize the unmarked vehicle, which was not using lights or sirens.
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