ICE officer surrenders after ramming worker with SUV in Houston

Mario Alberto Morales, a federal immigration officer, surrendered to authorities on Monday after being accused of intentionally driving his vehicle into a pedestrian in Houston. The incident occurred on Oct. 10, when Morales allegedly struck Miguel Parra Hernandez with an unmarked SUV while chasing the 48-year-old construction worker through a parking lot. Morales, who is 33, now faces a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

A grand jury indicted Morales on Friday, prompting his first court appearance on Monday. Judge Matthew Peneguy set bail at $30,000 during the hearing. Prosecutors had requested a higher amount of $75,000, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The judge’s decision allows Morales to remain free while awaiting trial, provided he posts the bond.

Video evidence plays a central role in the case. Surveillance footage from the parking lot shows Morales’ vehicle crossing a median before hitting Parra Hernandez as the worker ran away. ICE officials previously stated that Parra Hernandez ran in front of the agent’s car, a version of events that prosecutors say is contradicted by the camera recordings. The visual record supports the claim that the vehicle moved toward the pedestrian rather than the other way around.

Parra Hernandez suffered a broken leg in the collision. He is currently recovering in a rehabilitation facility while remaining in federal custody, according to District Attorney Sean Teare. The injury has left the construction worker unable to work, adding a physical toll to the legal battle unfolding in Harris County courts.

Morales served as an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officer for just over a year before the incident. His attorney, David Lindenmuth, described him as a good man who did not commit a crime. Lindenmuth noted that Morales had previously served in the Army and ran unsuccessfully for Congress this year. Court records also show Morales was charged with a misdemeanor in 2013 for stealing four DVDs, a case that ended in a plea deal where he paid a $270 fine.

The case draws attention to the number of federal agents facing criminal charges during the current administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. Morales is one of a small group of ICE officers to face such charges while on duty. Other encounters between agents and immigrants are currently under investigation, but few have resulted in formal indictments like the one filed against Morales this week.