An illegal immigrant is facing accusations of attacking and biting a three-year-old girl in the face at a park in Texas. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has filed a complaint against the suspect following his arrest, as announced by authorities.
On April 18, Gabriela Perez, 27, and her daughter Amelia, three, were reportedly attacked in Espada Park by 24-year-old Altarba Vyas from India, according to San Antonio police.
Police reported that Vyas allegedly assaulted Perez by pulling her hair and punching her, which caused her to drop Amelia. He then turned toward the child and bit her in the face.
This case has garnered significant attention, especially since Vyas had previously been arrested on felony assault charges months after arriving in the United States in 2023, but he was not deported, as stated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Witnesses intervened and restrained Vyas until the police arrived.
After the incident, Lopez described the attack as “like something out of a zombie movie.” A GoFundMe page has since been established, with Perez sharing that her daughter lost two teeth and now requires ongoing care and comfort. “She can’t go back to daycare or be left with someone else,” Perez mentioned, indicating that she’s had to take time off work to be with her.
Authorities have charged Vyas with injury to a child with intent to injure, assault resulting in injury, and unlawful entry. He has been booked into the Bexar County Detention Center.
DHS confirmed that ICE has submitted a detainer complaint requesting local authorities to transfer Vyas to federal custody after his criminal proceedings.
Vyas initially entered the U.S. on a student visa in August 2023. Subsequently, three months later, he was arrested on a serious assault charge at the University of Texas campus, leading university police to notify ICE.
DHS noted that the Biden administration decided that Vyas’ earlier crime was not severe enough to revoke his visa and opted against taking enforcement action.
Lauren Biss, Acting Assistant Secretary of State, criticized that decision, calling the assault on the child brutal and entirely preventable. “The Biden administration should never have released this individual after the assault arrest,” she stated, emphasizing that they are working to ensure he does not pose a threat in American communities again.
DHS has not yet responded to requests for further comments.
