A man was hospitalized with a broken leg Saturday morning after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent struck him with a vehicle during an attempted arrest outside Houston, authorities said.
Deputies were dispatched around 7:20 a.m. to Clay Road near Highway 6 in northwest Harris County after an ICE officer called 911 for medical assistance, according to Maj. Anthony McConnell of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Bureau. The agent had been attempting to pull over a white pickup truck carrying two men, officials said.
The agency said its target was Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, a Mexican national subject to a final order of removal by an immigration judge. When the pickup stopped facing oncoming traffic, both Mendoza-Cervantes and a passenger, identified by federal officials as Miguel Parra-Hernandez, exited the vehicle and fled on foot, local investigators said.
Disputed Accounts and Video Footage
Surveillance footage obtained by ABC13 Houston showed one man running toward Highway 6 while Parra-Hernandez ran through a shopping center parking lot. The video shows an unmarked dark sport utility vehicle turning into the lot and hitting Parra-Hernandez, who remained on the ground for several minutes.
In a statement, ICE claimed that Parra-Hernandez “ran in front of an ICE vehicle and was struck.” However, footage reviewed by ABC News and ABC13 appears to show the SUV steering in the direction of the fleeing man and moving through empty parking spaces before impact. McConnell told reporters that an agent was attempting to box Parra-Hernandez in when the vehicle hit him.
Surveillance video also captured an agent moving the abandoned pickup truck into the shopping center parking lot prior to the arrival of local deputies, McConnell noted, adding, “I believe ICE agents moved it before we got there.”
Parra-Hernandez suffered lower-body trauma, including a fractured leg, and was transported to an area hospital, where he was listed in stable condition, CNN reported. ICE said he is currently in federal custody and that the agency alleges he is in the country without legal status. Officials have not detailed any criminal record for Parra-Hernandez.
Local Officials Demand Cooperation
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is heading the crash investigation with assistance from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. McConnell emphasized that county investigators are focusing strictly on the collision itself, while referring questions about the underlying enforcement operation to federal officials.
County leaders quickly called on federal authorities to turn over all materials related to the encounter. Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said she was “horrified” by the incident and called for ICE to deliver video recordings to local investigators. “We demand full transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law,” Briones said.
Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin also urged full compliance with county detectives. “Time is of the essence in getting the facts, and the public deserves clear, accurate answers,” Kamin said in a statement.
The incident occurred amid national scrutiny regarding vehicle enforcement tactics by immigration authorities. Earlier this month, CNN reported that internal guidance requires ICE agents to undergo specific training courses before carrying out vehicle stops and mandates that operational vehicles include lights and sirens.
Mendoza-Cervantes remained at large as of Sunday, according to investigators. ICE asked the public for assistance locating him, stating that he has five prior unlawful entries into the country, two prior deportations, and previous arrests for driving under the influence and unlawful firearm possession.
