ICE officer indicted for aggravated assault after striking man with vehicle in Texas

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, Mario Alberto Morales, was indicted by a Texas grand jury on a felony charge of second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Harris County District Attorney's Office, as reported by ABC News and CBS News.

The incident occurred during a pursuit in Houston on October 10, 2026, when Morales struck Miguel Parra Hernandez with his vehicle. Parra Hernandez suffered significant injuries including multiple fractures to his right leg, CBS News stated.

Body-camera footage played at a press conference showed Morales aggressively steering his vehicle into Parra Hernandez, who was fleeing on foot along with another individual. The video shows Parra Hernandez groaning in pain on the ground after being hit, according to ABC News.

Parra Hernandez, a 48-year-old Mexican national living in Texas without documentation, has no criminal record and was not under a deportation order at the time, CBS News reported. He remains in ICE custody and is recovering in a rehab facility, causing him to miss court dates.

The Harris County District Attorney said Morales could face two to 20 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors have been in contact with Morales' attorney, and Morales is expected to be taken into custody soon, CBS News added.