Harris County prosecutors are weighing criminal charges against a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer who they say deliberately drove into an undocumented immigrant during an attempted arrest in Houston over the weekend. The incident has intensified scrutiny of federal enforcement tactics in Texas, where immigration-related operations have repeatedly drawn criticism from local officials.
Miguel Parra Hernandez, a 48-year-old undocumented immigrant, was heading to work early Saturday when federal agents in unmarked vehicles tried to pull him over, according to Cesar Espinosa, executive director of the immigrant advocacy group FIEL Houston. Parra Hernandez stopped his car, but he and a passenger fled on foot. ICE said in a statement that Parra Hernandez ran into the path of one of the unmarked vehicles and was struck. However, surveillance footage reviewed by local media appears to show the SUV swerving toward the fleeing men, striking Parra Hernandez as he ran.
Espinosa said Monday that Parra Hernandez suffered a broken leg in three places and will require surgery. “We demand answers and transparency from all agencies involved,” Espinosa said. “The community needs to know the identities of the agents and if there are charges that are filed for the wrongdoing committed.”
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, a Democrat, announced Monday that his office had opened an investigation into the use of force and appealed for witnesses or video from the public. In a statement posted to social media, Teare said: “ICE tactics in our community are growing more brazen and more dangerous. High-speed pursuits and aggressive operations on busy streets put everyone at risk. No badge puts anyone above the law in Harris County and we will continue to follow evidence wherever it may lead.”
Speaking to ABC13 on Tuesday, Teare said he believed the agent intentionally struck Parra Hernandez and that “a charging decision is going to come in a relatively short order in this case.”
The incident is the latest in a string of violent encounters involving ICE officers in Texas. In July, an ICE agent fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. Last month, another ICE agent shot and wounded Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin while he was working as a food delivery driver. Both cases remain under investigation.
Immigrant rights advocates have pointed to these incidents as evidence of an increasingly aggressive federal enforcement posture, particularly in Texas where state leaders have pushed for tougher immigration measures. Local officials have repeatedly clashed with federal authorities over jurisdiction and tactics, with some calling for greater oversight of ICE operations.
The Department of Homeland Security and ICE have not responded to requests for comment. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has said it will release further details as the investigation progresses.
This case also underscores the broader political debate over immigration enforcement, which has become a flashpoint in the upcoming midterm elections. Republican leaders have defended aggressive ICE tactics, while Democrats and immigrant rights groups have called for more accountability and transparency. The outcome of the Harris County investigation could set a precedent for how local prosecutors handle allegations of misconduct by federal agents.
