Man injured by ICE vehicle requires additional surgery, advocates say
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Miguel Parra Hernandez, 48, suffered leg, hip and ankle injuries after being struck by an ICE vehicle during a pursuit and will need further reconstructive procedures, according to his advocates.
Miguel Parra Hernandez, 48, was hospitalized after an ICE vehicle ran over him during a pursuit in Houston on Saturday. He underwent initial surgery on his leg but doctors say additional procedures will be needed to reconstruct the leg and other injuries, and he must avoid weight-bearing for six weeks while swelling subsides.
Cesar Espinosa, co-founder and executive director of the advocacy group FIEL, said Parra was on foot when the unmarked vehicle struck him.
"Parra told us he fled because the vehicle had no markings, did not use sirens and had dark tinted windows," Espinosa said.
ICE stated that its officers attempted a vehicle stop, that the occupants fled, and that Parra ran in front of the vehicle and was hit. The agency added that Parra was not the target of the stop.
Video obtained by a local NBC affiliate shows a white, unmarked truck traveling against traffic, crossing a median and moving toward Parra as he ran. The footage also shows the truck swerving left into Parra’s path before striking him.
Parra’s attorney, Kim Bruno, said the man has lived in the United States for 34 years, has no criminal record, and works in stucco construction. She noted that immigration authorities have not responded to requests for comment.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is leading an investigation into the incident, with assistance from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The Civil Rights Division of the district attorney’s office sent investigators to the scene.
The incident occurred shortly after the Department of Homeland Security issued guidance requiring specific training, lights, sirens and body-camera activation for agents conducting vehicle stops.