The Department of Homeland Security blasted the Biden administration after an illegal alien from India allegedly bit a three-year-old Texas girl at a San Antonio park, causing her to lose two teeth. Federal officials revealed the suspect had been arrested for felony assault months earlier but faced no immigration enforcement action.
Brutal Attack at San Antonio Park
Atharva Vyas, 24, allegedly attacked Gabriella Perez and her daughter at Espada Park on April 18, 2026. According to police reports, Vyas emerged from nearby woods and began punching Perez, grabbing her hair, and causing her to drop her child. Witnesses restrained Vyas until officers arrived. Perez described the scene as resembling a horror movie, saying Vyas attempted to poke her daughter’s eyes and bit the child’s face, resulting in serious injuries including facial wounds and the loss of two teeth.
Prior Arrest Ignored by Biden Administration
DHS confirmed Vyas entered the United States in August 2023 on a student visa. Three months later, University of Texas police arrested him for felony assault and contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement. However, the Biden administration determined the prior crime was not egregious enough to warrant visa revocation and took no enforcement action. The Trump administration later revoked his F-1 visa in April 2025 due to the assault arrest. ICE has now lodged a detainer requesting San Antonio officials transfer Vyas to federal custody after he completes the criminal justice process.
Federal Officials Condemn Decision
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis condemned the Biden administration’s handling of the case. She stated the brutal assault against the woman and child was completely preventable and criticized officials for releasing the suspect following his initial arrest. Vyas faces multiple charges including injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury, assault causing bodily injury, and illegal entry from a foreign nation. The case highlights ongoing tensions between Texas cities and federal immigration authorities over cooperation policies.
Broader Immigration Policy Scrutiny
The incident intensifies debate over foreign student visa programs and immigration enforcement priorities. Texas A&M University generated over $106 million in tuition and fees from international students during the 2024-2025 academic year, including significant populations from India. Dallas recently updated its police immigration policy after state officials threatened to withhold approximately $32.1 million in public safety grants. The revised policy permits officers to inquire about immigration status after lawful detention or arrest and cooperate with federal immigration officers when reasonable or necessary.
