DHS identifies Green Bay machete suspect as undocumented immigrant, not ‘local man’

Department of Homeland Security Critiques Media on Wisconsin Attack

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken issue with how traditional media is framing a recent machete attack in Wisconsin, describing the assailant as a “Green Bay guy.” However, they clarified that the individual involved is actually an undocumented immigrant from Nicaragua.

David Joel Herrera Garcia, 24, faces multiple charges, including two counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and armed robbery. According to DHS, Herrera-Garcia is classified as a “non-enforcement priority” under the Biden administration.

The charges against him relate to an incident where he allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend’s residence and attacked her with a machete. Emergency responders found both a man and a woman severely injured early on April 20. The woman, who is 23 years old, identified Herrera-Garcia as the attacker and he was subsequently arrested.

DHS has submitted a request to immigration officials at the Brown County Jail to transfer Herrera-Garcia to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for a possible deportation process. “Despite being labeled as ‘the Green Bay guy’ in some media reports, he is, in fact, an illegal immigrant from Nicaragua,” the agency stated.

Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Biss expressed concerns about legacy media portraying illegal immigrants while downplaying their criminal activities. “These illegal aliens are allowed by the Biden administration to roam our streets and potentially harm innocent people,” she remarked.

Details of the alleged attack show that Herrera-Garcia used a key to enter his ex-girlfriend’s home, where he assaulted her and also attacked a male victim with a machete. The police applied a tourniquet to one victim before transporting them to a hospital. The female victim suffered multiple injuries, while the male had injuries to his shoulder and arms.

According to DHS records, Herrera-Garcia entered the U.S. illegally with his father in 2019. A final deportation order was issued in 2022 after he missed his immigration hearing. However, under the previous administration, ICE opted not to detain him following a local arrest.

Biss criticized the Biden administration’s classification of Herrera-Garcia, emphasizing that he is a dangerous individual. She described him as a “criminal illegal alien” who assaulted two people with a machete and pointed out the shift in enforcement priorities compared to previous administrations.

This incident has intensified discussions about sanctuary policies across various jurisdictions, which limit cooperation with ICE. Biss has been vocal about the negative impact these policies have on community safety, noting that they hinder law enforcement efforts.