A Houston immigration advocacy group is calling out federal agents, presenting new evidence that the man ICE claimed to be searching for when their SUV struck Miguel Parra on October 10 had been dead for nearly a decade.
FIEL Houston executive director Cesar Espinosa announced this morning the organization has obtained documentation proving that Jose Cervantes Mendoza — the man ICE said agents were targeting — does not exist as a living person.
Espinosa says the man behind the alias was actually Jose Hector Jimenez, who died years ago attempting to re-enter the U.S. near Laredo — at the hands of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The story broke Wednesday when Jimenez’s daughter called FIEL’s office after seeing her late father’s photo on ICE’s website and in news coverage.
“She called our office sobbing because she saw her dad’s picture all over the news, all over the ICE website,” Espinosa said.
FIEL says it has turned that documentation over to the Harris County District Attorney’s office. The revelation aligns with a New York Times report published Thursday, which found ICE agents in Houston had been searching for a man whose family says died in 2017.
“Either immigration is starting to see ghosts, or they’re lying,” Espinosa said.
ICE agents struck Miguel Parra with a government SUV during an enforcement operation in northwest Harris County. An ICE officer has since been placed on administrative leave.
A man identified only as Omar, who says he was with Parra that morning, appeared at Friday’s press conference to directly counter ICE’s claim that agents had visually identified a target before the vehicle struck Parra.
“I was with Miguel that day. He is my friend. He is also my boss. And that’s it, that’s all,” Omar said.
Parra remains hospitalized with multiple fractures in his right leg and is facing reconstructive surgery on his ankle. Now, his mental health is deteriorating too.
His attorney, Kim Bruno, says Parra has fallen into depression after learning he may never have been near a legitimate enforcement target.
Making matters worse, Espinosa alleges Parra is surrounded around the clock by armed ICE agents — some allegedly present the day of the incident — who he says have been overheard mocking him.
“Joking, laughing, mocking him on the radio saying, ‘Oh, we’re gonna go get more families, we’re going to go get other people.’ And he’s hearing this 24-seven,” Espinosa said.
Parra’s friend and witness Luis Enrique Delfin remains held at the Montgomery Processing Center. Attorney Bruno confirmed Delfin also sustained soft tissue injuries during the incident. His sister, Nidia Delfin, described a brother who is no longer himself.
“He is not the same guy that was out like last week. He is nervous, he is afraid,” she said.
FIEL is demanding Delfin’s immediate release so he can cooperate with the DA’s investigation without coercion.
“At the end of the day, we seek transparency,” Espinosa said.
The Harris County District Attorney’s office is actively investigating. With FIEL delivering documentation of the alleged target’s death to prosecutors and an ICE officer already on administrative leave, pressure is growing on federal authorities to explain what really happened that morning.
ICE has not publicly responded to FIEL’s claims.
