HOUSTON – The ICE agent accused of running a man over during last weekend’s Harris County ICE operation has been placed on administrative leave, according to FIEL Houston.
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FIEL made the announcement on social media on Thursday, calling it “a first step in the right direction to make sure that we hold all parties accountable.”
FOX 26 has contacted other agencies and parties involved to confirm the reports.
A New York Times article later reported that the suspect who agents were reportedly looking for, Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, died nine years ago.
According to NYT, the man’s daughter shared a death certificate for Jose Hector Jimenez Mendoza showing that he died in 2017.
FOX 26 has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for confirmation.
This is a breaking news report. We will update when more information is available.
Houston ICE-involved crash
The backstory:
The incident happened Saturday morning in northwest Harris County, near Clay Road and Highway 6.
ICE agents were said to be going after a truck with two men inside. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the white truck began driving the wrong way down Clay Road before coming to a complete stop.
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Two men exited the white truck and fled on foot. One man ran eastbound down Clay Road and escaped. The second man, identified as Miguel Parra Hernandez, was struck by an ICE vehicle.
Parra was rushed to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for a broken leg.
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ICE later released a photo of their initial target in the operation, Jose Mendoza-Cervantes. DHS confirmed that Cervantes is unlawfully present in the United States and has four prior arrests.
Hernandez’s attorney, Kim Bruno, says her client does not know and has never heard of Mendoza-Cervantes, alleging the wanted suspect was not in the truck with her client.
Dig deeper:
DHS confirms target in Harris County ICE operation crash as new witnesses come forward in investigation
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