Illegal Alien Accused of Biting 3-Year-Old Girl’s Face at Texas Park; ICE Lodges Detainer Following Arrest
Why It Matters
A violent attack on a mother and her toddler at a San Antonio, Texas park has reignited national debate over immigration enforcement failures, with federal authorities confirming that the suspect — an illegal alien from India — had a prior felony assault arrest and was allowed to remain in the United States under the Biden administration. The case is drawing sharp scrutiny from the Department of Homeland Security, which says the assault was completely preventable.
The incident adds to a growing record of crimes committed by illegal aliens who were previously encountered by law enforcement but released without deportation — a pattern that DHS highlighted during National Crime Victims Week, calling such crimes avoidable tragedies for American families.
What Happened
On April 18, 2026, Gabriella Perez, 27, and her three-year-old daughter Amelia were walking at Espada Park in San Antonio when they were allegedly attacked by 24-year-old Atharva Vyas, an Indian national who had entered the United States illegally after overstaying his visa status.
According to San Antonio police, Vyas pulled Perez’s hair and punched her, causing her to drop her daughter. He then allegedly bit the child’s face. Witnesses at the park physically restrained Vyas until law enforcement arrived.
Vyas was charged with injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury, assault causing bodily injury, and illegal entry. He was booked into the Bexar County Detention Center. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has since lodged a detainer requesting that local authorities transfer Vyas to federal custody following the conclusion of his criminal proceedings.
A Prior Arrest — and No Action
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Vyas first entered the United States in August 2023 on a student visa. Just three months later, he was arrested on the University of Texas campus on charges of felony assault, and university police contacted ICE at that time.
Despite that arrest, DHS stated that “the Biden administration determined the crime was not egregious enough to warrant visa revocation and decided to take no enforcement action” against Vyas. He was not deported and remained in the country, ultimately losing his legal status and becoming an illegal alien.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis condemned that prior decision in a public statement. “This criminal illegal alien brutally bit this child and caused her to lose two teeth,” Bis said. “This barbaric assault against this woman and her 3-year-old in a park was completely preventable. The Biden administration never should have released this animal following his arrest for assault. We are working with our partners in Texas to ensure this criminal illegal alien never roams free in American communities again.”
By the Numbers
3 — Age of the child victim, Amelia Perez, who lost two teeth in the attack.
2023 — Year Vyas first entered the U.S. on a student visa, with his first felony assault arrest occurring just three months later.
2 — Criminal charges related to assault, plus a charge of illegal entry filed following the April 18 attack.
1 — ICE detainer now lodged against Vyas, seeking federal custody transfer after state criminal proceedings conclude.
Zoom Out
The Espada Park attack reflects a broader national pattern that immigration enforcement advocates have long warned about: illegal aliens with prior criminal records who are released back into communities rather than deported. Under the Trump administration, DHS has made enforcement against criminal illegal aliens a stated priority, with ICE conducting targeted operations across the country.
Similar cases — including those involving illegal aliens charged with violent crimes after earlier encounters with law enforcement — have been documented in multiple states. DHS and Republican lawmakers have cited these incidents as evidence that lax enforcement under the prior administration created preventable public safety risks for American citizens and legal residents.
What’s Next
Vyas remains in the Bexar County Detention Center as his criminal case proceeds through the Texas court system. Once criminal proceedings conclude, ICE’s active detainer means federal authorities are positioned to take him into custody for removal proceedings.
Gabriella Perez has created a GoFundMe page to help cover expenses, noting that her daughter “has needed constant care, comfort, and reassurance” since the attack and that Amelia is unable to return to daycare. Perez said she has had to take time away from work to remain by her daughter’s side as the child recovers.
DHS indicated it is coordinating with Texas law enforcement partners to ensure Vyas does not return to American communities following resolution of the case.