Investigation Underway Following Incident Involving ICE Agent in Houston

An ICE agent has been placed on administrative leave following an incident in Houston that resulted in an immigrant being struck by a vehicle. The case is currently under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Harris County District Attorney’s office.

Details of the Incident

The incident occurred on October 10, during which Miguel Parra Hernández was struck by a vehicle operated by ICE. Following the event, a senior DHS official indicated to NBC News that several ICE officers present at the time were equipped with body cameras, and footage from these cameras is being reviewed as part of the ongoing internal investigation.

Witness Accounts

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare mentioned that he has spoken with a key witness named José Presa Cañada, who was handcuffed in the ICE vehicle at the time of the incident. This witness provided significant details regarding the lead-up to the collision.

Teare stated, “We did get a significant amount of relevant details from him.” This interview took place at Port Isabel Processing Center, located approximately 35 to 40 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, which historically serves as a holding facility prior to deportations.

Ongoing Investigations

The District Attorney’s office is compiling evidence and expects to present their findings to a grand jury shortly, possibly within the next week. Additionally, they have issued subpoenas for Parra’s medical records and those of the emergency personnel who responded to the scene.

Concerns Over Witness Deportation

Advocates, including Cesar Espinosa, co-founder of FIEL Houston, have raised concerns about Presa’s detention, emphasizing the urgency of understanding his situation regarding potential deportation. Espinosa expressed, “It’s very troubling that Presa is in Port Isabel.”

Responses from Authorities

The ICE agency stated that Parra was not the intended target of their operation during the incident, asserting that he ran into the vehicle’s path. However, District Attorney Teare has indicated he possesses video evidence suggesting otherwise. “It’s pretty obvious” from the videos the office has collected that the vehicle intentionally struck Parra, he remarked.

Video evidence shows a non-marked vehicle swerving towards Parra as he attempted to flee, leading to the incident. In an unusual turn, when officials sought to download data from the ICE vehicle soon after the collision, an agent drove it away, potentially erasing critical evidence.

Future Steps

The investigation remains in progress, with Teare’s office actively working with the consulates of the countries of origin for all involved individuals to assist in securing U visas, which would provide protections for key witnesses involved in criminal cases. Teare has emphasized the importance of their safety and the efforts being made to protect them from deportation.

This case continues to unfold, with further developments expected as investigations are deepened and subsequent actions are contemplated by the authorities.