Who is Atharva Vyas? ICE speaks out after Indian man arrested in Texas for ‘violently assaulting’ mom, 3-y/o daughter

Atharva Vyas “forcefully grabbed” the mom by the hair and then assaulted the child, causing injuries, "including bite marks and the loss of two teeth.”

Published on: Apr 29, 2026, 05:53:04 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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A 24-year-old Indian national has been arrested in Texas after “violently assaulting” a young mother, Gabriella Perez, and her three-year-old daughter in a San Antonio park on April 18. ICE has spoken out after the arrest, saying they want Atharva Vyas to be turned over to them.

“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,” ICE wrote on X.

Who is Atharva Vyas?

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), “Local law enforcement says that the attack began as Vyas forcefully grabbed Perez by the hair, causing her daughter to fall from her arms. While Perez was on the floor, Vyas assaulted the child, causing bodily and facial injuries, including bite marks and the loss of two teeth.”

Vyas entered the US in August 2023 on a student visa, but was arrested at the University of Texas campus for felony assault just three months later. The University of Texas Police then contacted ICE.

“And yet, the Biden Administration determined this crime was not “egregious” enough to warrant visa revocation and decided to take no enforcement action against Vyas,” the DHS wrote.

“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,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “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.”

ICE later lodged a detainer requesting San Antonio turn Vyas over to them after he “faces the American justice system,” per the DHS.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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