By Fatma Younis
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Mario Alberto Morales, 33, turned himself in Monday after being indicted on a second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The indictment stems from an October 10 incident in which Morales struck Miguel Parra Hernandez with his vehicle during a foot chase in Harris County, Texas. Morales was released on a $30,000 bond following a court hearing.
Incident and Indictment
Surveillance and body-camera footage captured Morales pursuing Parra, who had exited a stopped truck and began running. The video shows Morales' vehicle making a sharp left turn in front of a stopped car and hitting Parra. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said the footage led investigators to believe Morales deliberately ran over Parra to stop him. Parra is currently in rehabilitation, overseen by ICE officers, recovering from multiple injuries.
Hiring Surge Under Scrutiny
The case has intensified criticism of the Trump administration's rapid hiring surge in 2025 to expand ICE ranks for mass deportation efforts. DHS officials previously acknowledged that some recruits failed to meet hiring standards, including having disqualifying criminal backgrounds or lacking physical and academic requirements. Earlier this month, ICE announced it would retrain thousands of officers who received expedited training due to the surge.
Officer's Background Questioned
Morales was hired in August 2025 after working as a corrections officer, a military police officer, and a guard at the Port Isabel Detention Center. He resigned from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2018 while on probation for falsifying security-round records. DA Teare stated he was not aware of any agency that would have hired Morales given his work history. Morales' attorney, David Lindenmuth, described his client as an ordained pastor and a faith-based person who tries to help people.
Conflicting Accounts
Lindenmuth argued the collision was accidental, occurring as Morales reacted to avoid hitting another vehicle. He accused Teare of character assassination driven by political opposition to ICE's agenda. An ICE spokesperson called allegations of intentional striking "RECKLESS and FALSE," stating ICE officers are held to the highest standards. Teare countered that Morales' attempt to move the injured Parra was careless and noted Morales had two handcuffed arrestees in the back seat without seat belts at the time.
