Targeted Immigration Operation Leads to Pursuit and Collision

HOUSTON, Texas — A federal immigration enforcement operation took an unexpected turn on Saturday morning in Harris County, Texas, as a man with a significant criminal record fled and collided with a vehicle while trying to evade authorities. The incident involved Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, a Mexican national who has been deported multiple times and has a history of drunk driving arrests.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials shared that officers were executing a targeted operation around 8:30 a.m. on October 10, intending to arrest Mendoza-Cervantes, identified as a public safety risk. His record includes four DUI arrests, an unlawful possession of a firearm arrest, and a final removal order issued by a federal judge.

Notably, Mendoza-Cervantes has illegally entered the United States five times, which constitutes a federal felony, and has already faced deportation twice.

During their surveillance, ICE agents saw him get into a vehicle with another Mexican illegal immigrant, Miguel Parra-Hernandez. When agents attempted to stop the vehicle, both men initially complied but soon fled on foot. Unfortunately, during the ensuing chase, Parra-Hernandez ran in front of an ICE vehicle and was struck.

ICE officers quickly provided medical assistance and contacted emergency services. Parra-Hernandez was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries and is reported to be in stable condition.

ICE officials linked the dangerous behavior to actions taken by certain politicians advocating for sanctuary policies. They noted that recent discussions led by some Democratic lawmakers have included webinars and resources encouraging illegal immigrants to avoid ICE apprehensions.

• For instance, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a webinar with tips on how to evade arrests.
• Dan Goldman shared a video urging undocumented individuals to create plans for potential ICE encounters.
• Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass circulated multilingual flyers advising on evasion tactics.
• California Governor Gavin Newsom released guides on recognizing ICE officials and resisting arrest.

Mendoza-Cervantes remains at large, and authorities are urging anyone with information about his location to contact the ICE Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423 or complete the ICE Online Tip Form.