Man injured after collision with ICE vehicle during Houston pursuit
An undocumented immigrant was left with broken legs after being struck by an ICE vehicle in a Houston parking lot, while authorities continue to investigate the incident.
Federal immigration agents attempted a vehicle stop in a Houston parking lot on Saturday, during which two men fled on foot, according to an ICE spokesperson. The target of the operation, undocumented immigrant Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, escaped and has not been located. The second individual, identified as Miguel Parra-Hernandez, ran into the lot and was later seen lying on the ground after an unmarked black SUV appeared to strike him.
Surveillance footage obtained by CNN shows the SUV accelerating into the parking area, after which Parra-Hernandez disappears behind a parked pickup truck. The truck later drives away, revealing Parra-Hernandez on the ground and the SUV stopped nearby. ICE officials said the vehicle made contact after Parra-Hernandez ran in front of it and that emergency services were called immediately. The agency described his injuries as non-life-threatening and reported he was in stable condition.
Parra-Hernandez’s attorney, Kim Bruno, said her client suffered two broken legs and will require surgery. She noted that he has lived in the United States since age 14 and has no prior immigration encounters.
Maj. Anthony McConnell of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, who leads the special investigations bureau, said an ICE agent was attempting to box in Parra-Hernandez when the collision occurred. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the district attorney’s office, is leading the investigation and is seeking additional surveillance footage.
ICE has recently updated its internal guidance on vehicle stops, requiring agents to complete specific training and to use vehicles equipped with lights and sirens. The policy change follows scrutiny after two separate fatal shootings involving ICE officers earlier this year.