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ICE agent accused of intentionally running over undocumented immigrant could face up to 20 years in prison

The incident occurred on October 10, when Officer Mario Alberto Morales was pursuing a vehicle driven by Miguel Parra-Hernández, a Mexican citizen who, according to ICE, was in the United States illegally.

ICE

AFP.

Joaquín Núñez
Published by
Joaquín Núñez

Published

2 minutes read

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent was accused of running over a man during a chase in Houston, Texas. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced on Friday that a grand jury had filed charges against officer Mario Alberto Morales with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The incident occurred on October 10, when Morales was pursuing a vehicle driven by Miguel Parra-Hernandez, a 48-year-old Mexican citizen who, according to ICE, was in the United States illegally. During the chase, Parra-Hernández and another person abandoned the car and attempted to flee on foot.

According to the investigation, Morales drove his vehicle into Parra-Hernandez and ran him over, causing a broken leg. After being taken to the hospital, the man of Mexican origin was placed in the custody of immigration authorities.

According to Prosecutor Teare, the footage shows that the officer deliberately rammed into Parra-Hernández and ran over both of his legs. However, ICE had initially claimed that the man had stepped in front of the officer's vehicle.

If convicted, Morales could face a sentence of between two and 20 years in prison.

ICE's response

In a statement, ICE stated that the case was "nothing more than a political stunt by Houston sanctuary politicians." Furthermore, the statement notes that the investigation itself violates federal law: "Federal officers acting in the course of their duties can only be investigated by other Federal agencies. Local governments do not have the authority to run such an investigation."

In the same statement, the agency rejected the allegations that the incident was intentional and maintained that they are "reckless and false."

"The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct," he added.

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