When immigration agents struck a construction worker with an SUV in Houston, they claimed they were chasing an undocumented man with criminal charges. However, the photo they shared was of a man who died nearly a decade ago. Jamie Jimenez of Dallas identified the deceased man as her father, Jose Hector Jimenez Mendoza, who died in Laredo, Texas, in October 2017 after falling from a cliff while fleeing agents.
ICE attributed the same criminal charges -- driving under the influence and firearm possession -- to the dead man. His daughter provided photos and a death certificate confirming his identity. The televised bulletin depicting her father as a living fugitive reopened deep wounds for the family.
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have not responded to questions about the deceased man or the current target. Public records show multiple people with variations of the name Mendoza-Cervantes in Texas. The injured driver, Miguel Parra Hernandez, remains hospitalized and requires multiple surgeries.
Authorities in Austin and Harris County are investigating separate incidents involving ICE agents and violent traffic stops. The incident highlights ongoing criticism of ICE operations under the Trump administration's escalated arrest campaign.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing