An immigration enforcement operation that left a Houston man seriously injured has taken a stunning turn after a family recognized the photograph of the person federal agents claimed they were pursuing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said agents were attempting to arrest Jose Mendoza Cervantes on Oct. 10 when Miguel Parra Hernandez, 48, fled from a vehicle and was struck by an ICE SUV.
But the man pictured in an ICE wanted notice had reportedly been dead for nearly a decade, according to NBC News.
The outlet reported Friday that the daughter of Jose Hector Jimenez Mendoza identified her late father in the photograph. She said he died in 2017 and had previously used aliases, including the name ICE released.
“She called our office sobbing because she saw her dad’s picture all over the news, all over the ICE website, saying they were looking for her dad,” Cesar Espinosa of immigrant rights group FIEL Houston said.
Attorney Kim Bruno, who represents Parra Hernandez, called the revelation “beyond mind-blowing” and the use of the photograph “jaw-dropping.”
Bruno said the family provided a Mexican death certificate listing Mendoza’s death in 2017. Espinosa demanded answers at a news conference Friday.
“Either someone is not telling the truth or, all of a sudden, the two ICE agents have developed a sixth sense and are able to see dead people,” he said.