Atharva Vyas, a 24-year-old Indian national, was arrested by US authorities, after he allegedly attacked a woman and her three-year-old daughter at a park in San Antonio, Texas on April 18. Vyas reportedly bit the child, resulting in the loss of two teeth.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement shared on X, “Atharva Vyas, a 24-year-old Indian illegal alien, allegedly violently assaulted a mother named Gabriella Perez and her three-year-old daughter in a San Antonio park April 18. Vyas allegedly even bit the toddler and knocked out two of her teeth.”
Vyas reportedly targeted Perez by grabbing her hair. He subsequently attacked the toddler, who fell to the ground from her arms, resulting in “bodily and facial injuries”. According to the police, the child suffered bite marks and lost two teeth.
Vyas was arrested on the same day as the incident. ICE announced it lodged a detainer with local enforcement, requesting that he be handed over to the agency after he faces trial in the United States.
“ICE lodged a detainer with local law enforcement asking them to turn Vyas over to ICE instead of releasing him into the community after he’s faced justice for his alleged crimes,” it said.
According to authorities, Vyas entered the US in 2023 on a student visa. However, his F-1 visa was revoked in 2025 after he was arrested within three months of his arrival on the University of Texas campus for felony assault.
Acting Assistant Secretary of Office of Public Affairs of the Department of Homeland Security, Lauren Bis, condemned the incident, saying “This criminal illegal alien brutally bit this child and caused her to lose two teeth. This barbaric assault against this woman and her three-year-old in a park was completely preventable.”
She also criticised the previous handling of Vyas, blaming the Biden administration for releasing him after his first felony.
