A three-year-old Texas girl lost two teeth after a violent stranger attack at a San Antonio park, and federal authorities confirm the suspect’s prior felony assault should have triggered deportation under existing law. The Department of Homeland Security blames Biden administration policies for releasing the suspect despite a previous violent arrest.

What Happened at the Park

San Antonio police arrested Atharva Vyas, a 24-year-old illegal alien from India, after witnesses restrained him following the April 18 attack at Espada Park. Gabriella Perez, 27, told investigators that Vyas emerged from nearby woods and began punching her while grabbing her hair, causing her to drop her daughter. Officers arrived just before 3 p.m. to find Vyas held by a bystander who witnessed the assault but knew neither the suspect nor victims.

Perez described the terrifying assault in graphic terms. She said Vyas tried poking her eyes with his thumb before attacking her daughter. The child suffered serious facial injuries including bite marks and the loss of two teeth. Perez compared the violence to a horror film, saying the scene resembled something from a zombie movie. Police charged Vyas with injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury, assault causing bodily injury, and illegal entry from a foreign nation.

Immigration Enforcement Failures

Federal records show 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 notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Despite the violent felony charge, DHS confirms the Biden administration determined the crime was not serious enough to warrant visa revocation or immigration enforcement action. The Trump administration later revoked Vyas’ F-1 student visa in April 2025 because of the prior assault arrest.

Broader Immigration Policy Concerns

Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis condemned the attack as completely preventable, stating the Biden administration should never have released the suspect after his first arrest. ICE has lodged a detainer requesting San Antonio authorities transfer Vyas to federal immigration custody after criminal proceedings conclude. The case highlights ongoing tensions between Texas cities and federal immigration authorities. Dallas recently revised its police immigration policy after state officials threatened to withhold roughly 32 million dollars in public safety grants. The updated Dallas policy allows officers to inquire about immigration status following lawful detentions or arrests and permits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement when appropriate.