A 48-year-old man was hospitalized Saturday morning after he was struck by a vehicle driven by ICE agents, officers with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department announced at a news conference.
The incident occurred around 7:20 a.m. on Clay Road near Highway 6 in west Houston, according to Harris County sheriff’s deputies who are investigating the matter. The man’s name had not been released as of Saturday evening.
“Preliminary information indicates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities were conducting an enforcement operation and pursuing a vehicle occupied by two men who exited a vehicle and fled on foot. During the incident, one of those men was struck by a vehicle operated by federal authorities,” according to a statement issued by the sheriff’s office. “The injured man was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for lower-body injuries. The second man remains unaccounted for.”
At Saturday’s press conference, Harris County Sheriff’s Office Major Anthony McConnell said the man has a broken leg; other reports noted “serious injuries.”
Fox 26 aired surveillance video of the incident and reported that the man is in ICE custody at a hospital.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, the HCSO release states, noting that the circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
County Attorney Abbie Kamin said in a statement, “Time is of the essence in getting the facts, and the public deserves clear, accurate answers.
“ICE must cooperate fully with the local investigation,” Kamin said. “My office supports Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and District Attorney Sean Teare in their ongoing independent investigation, and the Harris County Attorney’s Office stands ready to assist and support these critical efforts. We will continue to monitor developments closely as the facts become clear.”
Houston City Council Member Alejandra Salinas offered additional details in a social media post. “ICE agents hit a Houstonian with a vehicle while pursuing him during an enforcement operation this morning, leaving him hospitalized with serious injuries.”
“This is yet another example of ICE operating without accountability and harming our community,” Salinas said. “All video evidence should be released, and ICE must cooperate fully with a transparent investigation by local law enforcement so those responsible are held accountable.”
Detectives encourage anyone with video, photos, or other relevant information to contact them at 713-221-6000.
Saturday’s incident occurred about three months after a federal agent fatally shot longtime Houstonian Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in the Magnolia Park neighborhood July 7 while he was driving to work with members of his construction crew.
Cesar Espinosa, executive director of the immigrant-led civil rights group FIEL Houston, said Saturday he has more questions than answers about the latest incident.
“The biggest question we have is why does this keep happening?” he said. “We demand answers and transparency from all agencies involved. The community needs to know the identities of the agents and if there are charges that are filed for the wrongdoing committed.”
