An ICE officer named Mario Alberto Morales has been indicted by a Texas grand jury on a charge of second-degree aggravated assault. Prosecutors allege that Morales deliberately drove his SUV into a fleeing immigrant, Miguel Parra Hernandez, in early October. This indictment is significant as it may be the first time an ICE agent has faced state charges in Texas. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced the charge, specifying the assault weapon was a motor vehicle. If convicted, Morales faces a prison sentence of two to 20 years. Teare emphasized that authority figures are not exempt from repercussions for violating constitutional rights in Harris County. Parra Hernandez, a long-term resident with no criminal record, was being pursued while the ICE agents were reportedly looking for someone else entirely. ICE has labeled the indictment a "political stunt" and claims federal officers should only be investigated by federal agencies. They deny the allegations that Morales intentionally struck Parra Hernandez, calling the claims reckless and false. The District Attorney also expressed concerns about Morales being among "surge hires" during the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts and their training. Morales may try to move the case to federal court, arguing federal law protects him, but prosecutors are prepared to contest this.