The Department of Homeland Security has pushed back on media descriptions of a recent Wisconsin machete attack, saying the suspect is an illegal immigrant from Nicaragua rather than a “Green Bay man.” The accused, David Joel Herrera-Garcia, faces multiple violent charges and a DHS immigration detainer after what officials describe as a brutal break-in and attack at his ex-girlfriend’s home.
Police in Green Bay found two bloodied victims early on April 20 and arrested Herrera-Garcia later that morning. He is charged with two counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and armed burglary, and local officers say the scene showed blood “all over the concrete” leading to the house. Officers applied tourniquets and the victims were taken to a hospital with serious wounds.
DHS officials say they lodged an immigration detainer with the county jail to hold Herrera-Garcia for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “despite the legacy media calling Herrera-Garcia a ‘Green Bay man,’ he is in fact an illegal alien from Nicaragua.” That line came from the agency as it criticized how some outlets labeled the suspect.
The agency traces Herrera-Garcia’s arrival to 2019, when he allegedly entered the United States in Texas as a minor with his father. Officials say he received a final order of removal in 2022 after failing to appear for immigration hearings. Despite that, DHS claims ICE designated him a “non-enforcement priority” late in the prior administration’s term and did not take custody after a local arrest for driving without a license.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis spoke sharply about the case and the media coverage, tying it to enforcement decisions. “Yet again, legacy media has gone to bat for a vicious criminal illegal alien allowed by the Biden administration to roam our streets and prey upon innocent people,” she said. Her statement framed the episode as part of a broader pattern that critics blame on permissive immigration policies.
Bis reiterated the administration-level concern in blunt terms. “The Biden administration marked this criminal illegal alien as a non-enforcement priority,” said Bis. She also drove home the contrast with past policy by adding, “Under President Trump’s leadership, ICE lodged an arrest detainer with our local authorities to ensure this monster is never released back into our communities.”
The details of the attack are chilling: DHS says Herrera-Garcia allegedly used a key to enter his ex-girlfriend’s residence, then beat her and repeatedly stabbed her and another man with a machete. The female victim suffered a head injury and cuts to her hand and neck, while the male victim sustained wounds to his shoulder, forearm and shin. Neighbors and first responders described a chaotic scene and rapid lifesaving work by police.
This incident has reignited debate over sanctuary-style policies and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Jurisdictions that limit partnership with ICE are under fresh scrutiny from federal officials and critics who argue such limits let dangerous people slip through the cracks. “at every step on the way to make America safe again,” they “have tried to slow ICE down and chosen to release criminals from their jails into our communities to perpetrate more crimes and create more victims.”
Local law enforcement arrested Herrera-Garcia at the scene and county authorities are now juggling criminal prosecution and the federal immigration detainer. DHS wants the Brown County Jail to hand him over to ICE for possible deportation if federal procedures allow. Meanwhile, prosecutors will pursue the state charges that stem from a violent and traumatic home invasion.
The case highlights the friction between federal immigration priorities and local policing choices while fueling political arguments about border control and public safety. Officials on the right are using the episode to demand firmer enforcement and to criticize media narratives that they say obscure the suspect’s immigration status. The investigation and the immigration process will both proceed, and the wider debate over how to keep communities safe shows no sign of easing.
Darnell Thompkins is a conservative opinion writer from Atlanta, GA, known for his insightful commentary on politics, culture, and community issues. With a passion for championing traditional values and personal responsibility, Darnell brings a thoughtful Southern perspective to the national conversation. His writing aims to inspire meaningful dialogue and advocate for policies that strengthen families and empower individuals.