Federal Authorities Arrest Illegal Immigrant for Injury Incident Involving School Bus in New Jersey

Federal Authorities Arrest Illegal Immigrant for Injury Incident Involving School Bus in New Jersey

A man from New Jersey has been accused of injuring a young girl by allegedly throwing a baseball-sized rock at a school bus. Federal officials have identified Hernando Garcia-Morales, who is 40 years old and resides in Palisades Park, as being illegally present in the United States.

The incident occurred on January 7 on the northbound New Jersey Turnpike. New Jersey State Police have stated that multiple charges have been filed against Garcia-Morales related to this motor vehicle incident.

Incident Details Involving Yeshivat Noam School Bus

At the time of the incident, third-grade children were returning to Yeshivat Noam Jewish day school in Paramus after a class trip to Liberty Science Center. During this return trip, a large rock shattered through the bus window, according to previous statements from the school.

The rock struck an 8-year-old girl, causing her to suffer a skull fracture. In response to her injuries, she underwent surgery and is receiving ongoing medical attention.

Charges Filed Against Garcia-Morales

Garcia-Morales faced multiple charges after his arrest on January 9. New Jersey Turnpike State Police charged him with aggravated assault and resisting arrest, in addition to possession of a weapon. The Bogota Police Department also cited him for aggravated assault, criminal trespassing, and criminal mischief.

Involvement of the Department of Homeland Security

On January 14, the Department of Homeland Security announced that U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement had issued an arrest detainer for Garcia-Morales. They described him as a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico.

DHS representatives informed Fox News Digital that Garcia-Morales has a documented history of violence and is currently in the U.S. illegally. Remarkably, federal officials mentioned that he had not yet been deported due to New Jersey’s sanctuary policies.

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of DHS, condemned the incident, describing the act of targeting a school bus filled with children as exceptionally heinous. Furthermore, she expressed concern that Garcia-Morales was ever released into New Jersey communities after multiple arrests.

Call for Action on Sanctuary Policies

DHS officials are vocal about their discontent with New Jersey’s immigration policies, particularly their sanctuary city approach. McLaughlin urged New Jersey politicians to assist in keeping individuals like Garcia-Morales off American streets for good.

Criminal History and Past Arrests

Details about Garcia-Morales’s past reveal a troubling criminal history extending over two decades. He had previous arrests dating back to 2006 for possession of a weapon and theft. Most recently, he faced charges for burglary in 2023 for allegedly entering a building in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Despite these incidents, some charges were not pursued at that time. Noteworthy is that the next day, he was arrested again for providing false information and attempted burglary. Ultimately, the Municipal Court of Hackensack downgraded the charges later in September, resulting in a 30-day jail sentence for disorderly conduct along with a monetary fine.

Allegations of Rock-Throwing Confession

According to information relayed to officials at Yeshivat Noam Jewish day school, Garcia-Morales allegedly confessed not only to the recent incident on the New Jersey Turnpike but also to several other similar rock-throwing incidents reported in that area.

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

A superior court judge ruled on January 16 that Garcia-Morales would remain in Bergen County jail while the legal proceedings unfold. The Justice Department had already initiated actions against four New Jersey cities, accusing local officials of obstructing federal immigration law enforcement efforts through their sanctuary policies.

This incident has reignited discussion around the implications of sanctuary policies in New Jersey. The ongoing dialogue highlights the clash between local and federal mandates regarding immigration enforcement.

Louis Casiano contributed to this report.