After a federal immigration agent struck a man with his vehicle on Saturday, immigrant rights advocates and family members are demanding witnesses be protected from deportation — and disputing the official account of the event.
A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claimed Miguel Parra-Hernandez ran in front of an agent's vehicle while they were trying to arrest a different man, Jose Mendoza-Cervantes. The ICE spokesperson asserted the two men were in the same car, and Parra-Hernandez was fleeing the scene after an attempted traffic stop.
However, FIEL Executive Director Cesar Espinosa said Parra-Hernandez did not know the man ICE was trying to arrest, and he said they weren't in the same car. A different man, who was not the target of the ICE investigation, was in the car with Parra-Hernandez, Espinosa said.
"They have to stop pulling people over just because they fit a description. Just because they might seem like the person. Just because they're driving a white truck on their way to work," Espinosa said during a Wednesday press conference. "When I grew up, that was called racial profiling, and that is what's happening today."
ICE said they were seeking to detain Mendoza-Cervantes because he had a criminal record and a final order of removal.Houston Public Mediawasunable to find any criminal casesinvolving Mendoza-Cervantes in a search of local Dallas County and Harris County court records.
In a statement toHouston Public Media, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) re-iterated ICE's account of the incident Saturday.
"During surveillance, ICE observed their target and Miguel Parra-Hernandez, another illegal alien from Mexico, enter the vehicle," a DHS spokesperson said. "ICE then attempted a vehicle stop. The illegal aliens then pulled over and fled on foot. As ICE officers attempted to apprehend the illegal aliens, Miguel Parra-Hernandez ran in front of an ICE vehicle and was struck."
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said his officemay pursue felony assault chargesagainst the ICE agent who struck Parra-Hernandez with a vehicle. At the press conference on Wednesday, Espinoza said the witnesses should be protected from deportation so they can assist with the investigation.
DHS did not respond specifically to a request for comment about the possible criminal charges, but denied that an ICE agent intentionally ran over Parra-Hernandez.
"Allegations that ICE struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez intentionally are RECKLESS and FALSE," a DHS spokesperson said in its statement. "The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct."
According to FIEL, Hernandez sustained three fractures to his right leg as well as injuries to his left and is still in custody while receiving treatment. Parra-Hernandez's brother, Rodolfo Parra, said the family hopes ICE will allow him to receive appropriate medical treatment.
“We’re asking all people in any level of power to please request that they do not move my brother because he is in a delicate state of health, and that we’re still continuing to fight for justice," Parra said.
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