A federal immigration officer faces up to 20 years in prison after a grand jury indicted him for allegedly using his vehicle as a weapon against an unarmed man during an October pursuit in Texas. Body camera footage contradicts the officer’s 911 call and raises serious questions about federal law enforcement accountability.
The Incident and Evidence
Mario Alberto Morales, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, was indicted on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges by a Harris County grand jury. The indictment stems from an October 10 incident where Morales allegedly struck 48-year-old Miguel Parra-Hernandez with his 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee during a foot pursuit. Body camera footage shows Parra-Hernandez on the ground with a broken leg while Morales admits to a colleague that he hit the man with his car.
District Attorney Sean Teare presented evidence showing Morales aggressively steered his vehicle into Parra-Hernandez, running over both legs. The victim’s screams can be heard in the background of Morales’ 911 call, where the officer claimed Parra-Hernandez ran into his vehicle. This directly contradicts what the body camera footage reveals, according to prosecutors.
Federal Overreach or Legitimate Prosecution
ICE responded aggressively to the indictment, calling it a political stunt and claiming local officials lack authority to investigate federal officers performing their duties. The agency insisted allegations of intentional harm are reckless and false. However, Teare firmly rejected this position, stating that an ICE badge does not grant immunity from constitutional violations or give officers free rein to injure citizens on American streets.
The case raises critical questions about federal power and local sovereignty. Parra-Hernandez, who has lived in Texas for over three decades without legal documentation, had no criminal record and no deportation order at the time. He now remains in ICE custody, missing deportation hearings because he cannot leave the rehabilitation facility treating his injuries.
What This Means
Prosecutors discovered another troubling detail: ICE claimed agents were pursuing Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, an undocumented immigrant. That man has been dead for nine years, according to Teare. This revelation raises questions about the legitimacy of the entire operation. The district attorney emphasized his office respects law enforcement but will prosecute any officer who violates the law, regardless of federal credentials. This case tests whether federal agents can operate above state criminal law when their actions allegedly cross into violent assault against American residents.