ICE Was Chasing Immigrant Whose Family Says He Died; Agent Rams Man With S.U.V. in Houston

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 17, 2026

ICE agents in Houston struck and seriously injured Miguel Parra Hernandez with an SUV during an operation targeting an undocumented immigrant identified as Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, but the family of a man whose photo ICE circulated as the suspect says he died in 2017 and was misidentified. The incident has sparked investigations into ICE’s conduct and raised concerns about systemic errors in targeting individuals, while local authorities are examining whether the agents' actions constituted aggravated assault.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Houston struck a man with an SUV during a weekend operation targeting an undocumented Mexican immigrant believed to be facing deportation and multiple criminal charges. However, the family of the man identified in a photo released by ICE said he died nearly a decade ago.

According to an ICE statement on Saturday, agents conducting surveillance observed a man they identified as Jose Mendoza-Cervantes enter a vehicle driven by Miguel Parra Hernandez. When agents attempted to stop the vehicle, Mr. Parra Hernandez, 48, and a second man fled on foot. Video footage showed an immigration agent hitting Mr. Parra Hernandez from behind with an SUV, causing serious injuries including fractures to his leg, hip, and ankle. The second man escaped and remains at large. ICE released an image of the man they described as their target, who had not been apprehended.

The man’s family, however, quickly disputed the agency’s identification. Jamie Jimenez of Dallas said the photo widely shared by ICE depicted her father, Jose Hector Jimenez Mendoza, who died in 2017 after falling from a cliff while fleeing immigration authorities near the southern border. She provided a Mexican death certificate confirming his death at age 43 in Laredo, Texas, in October of that year, along with photos matching the image circulated by ICE. Court records and her family’s account indicate Mr. Jimenez Mendoza lived under multiple aliases, including the name used by ICE in the recent operation, and had a criminal record for driving under the influence and unlawful possession of a firearm—the same charges ICE attributed to their target.

The misidentification has caused distress for the family. Ms. Jimenez said the broadcast of her deceased father’s image as a fugitive reopened wounds and made it painful that he cannot defend himself. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to inquiries regarding the discrepancy or to requests for further details about the current suspect.

Local authorities are also investigating the incident. The Harris County district attorney’s office and sheriff’s office are treating the traffic pursuit that resulted in Mr. Parra Hernandez’s injuries as a possible aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. ICE maintained that Mr. Parra Hernandez ran in front of their vehicle, but footage suggests the agent’s SUV veered toward the man.

Mr. Parra Hernandez, who is undocumented, remains hospitalized and is expected to undergo multiple surgeries. His family and advocates assert he had no prior encounters with immigration enforcement and did not know the man ICE sought. Cesar Espinosa, executive director of immigrant rights organization FIEL, which is supporting Mr. Parra Hernandez’s family, said agents’ failure to correctly identify their target reflects systemic problems within ICE operations.

The Houston incident comes amid broader criticism of ICE’s use of force in immigration enforcement across Texas and other states. Investigations are underway into previous cases involving deadly encounters between ICE agents and immigrants, including the shooting of a Venezuelan man in Austin and the fatal pursuit of a father and construction business owner in Harris County.

ICE described their unknown target as a “public safety threat” with a history of multiple arrests, two prior removals from the country, and multiple illegal reentries. The agency has not provided updates clarifying the confusion between the man sought and the deceased individual whose image was circulated.

Ms. Jimenez described her father as a hardworking undocumented worker from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, who crossed into Texas at 18, married, and raised children. Before his death, he faced several driving-related charges and a conviction for giving false information to law enforcement. The family continues to grapple with unanswered questions surrounding his death and has sought to correct the record to honor his memory.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.