Dem governor offers no comment after “monster” illegal alien injures NJ child

New Jersey’s new Democratic governor, Mikie Sherrill, dodged a question from Fox News Digital about an illegal alien in his state allegedly fracturing an eight-year-old girl’s skull by throwing a rock at a school bus.

Sherrill, who was inaugurated Jan. 20 and voiced support for sanctuary policies during her campaign, declined to comment on the attack or the girl’s injuries. Instead, a spokesperson for Sherrill’s office referred Fox News Digital to Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport’s office.

In turn, a spokesperson for Davenport’s office told Fox News Digital that “nothing in New Jersey state law would have prevented New Jersey law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials to deport Mr. Garcia-Morales.”

Although the spokesperson did not discuss the child’s injuries, he said “our office’s number one priority is keeping the people of New Jersey safe.”

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Hernando Garcia-Morales, a New Jersey man accused of throwing a rock at a school bus that injured an 8-year-old girl, is in the country illegally, according to a report citing DHS. (New Jersey State Police; Department of Homeland Security)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has filed a complaint against the illegal immigrant believed to be behind the attack, Mexican national Hernando Garcia-Morales, 40.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Monday that Garcia-Morales, whom the agency called a “monster,” had an extensive criminal history. The agency said he entered the United States at an unknown date and location.

DHS said Garcia-Morales threw a baseball-sized rock at a school bus traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike in Teaneck Township, shattering a window and striking a third-grade student. The student, an eight-year-old girl, suffered a fractured skull and required surgery.

The agency said the bus was returning to Yeshivat Noam, a local Jewish school, after a field trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. According to the Jewish Standard, the 8-year-old girl underwent surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center and is now back home recovering.

The outlet reported that Garcia-Morales is a “serial rock thrower,” who authorities have linked to several similar incidents.

According to the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Garcia-Morales has a long list of prior charges beginning on July 13, 2025. He has multiple charges for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal mischief and several other charges.

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New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill arrives on stage during her inauguration ceremony in Newark, NJ, Tuesday, January 20, 2026. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

Garcia-Morales was arrested Jan. 9 by New Jersey Turnpike State Police on charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and possession of a weapon. Bogota police also charged him with aggravated assault, criminal trespass, criminal peering and criminal mischief damaging property. He is currently in law enforcement custody at the Bergen County Jail.

Garcia-Morales was also arrested for burglary in 2023 and for weapons possession and theft in 2006, according to DHS.

DHS Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the “violent targeting of a school bus full of children is extremely vicious and heinous.”

McLaughlin criticized New Jersey’s sanctuary policy, saying, “Hernando Garcia-Morales should never have been in this country, let alone released after multiple arrests in New Jersey communities.” »

“ICE has filed an arrest request for this monster, and we hope New Jersey’s sanctuary politicians will help us keep him off America’s streets for good,” she said, adding, “Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, criminal illegal aliens have no place in the United States. »

The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on whether it would honor ICE’s detention request.

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Demonstrators protest the activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in front of the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Davenport’s office told Fox News Digital that “nothing in New Jersey state law would have prevented New Jersey law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials to deport Mr. Garcia-Morales” and that “state law allows cooperation with ICE with respect to any person charged with or convicted of a violent crime.”

The spokesperson said that “if ICE wishes to detain an individual, it is their responsibility to notify the state correctional institution.” If he does not file a detention request with the facility, our state correctional officers cannot detain the inmate beyond the time he is required to be released due to state criminal charges. »

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“State law ensures that our police officers can effectively combat violent crime, gun violence, [and] drug trafficking, while ensuring victims and witnesses can safely come forward to report crimes, regardless of their immigration status,” the spokesperson continued, adding, “Our office’s number one priority is keeping New Jerseyans safe.”

This comes as DHS and ICE face growing opposition from pro-sanctuary politicians over immigration enforcement operations, particularly in Minneapolis. The Justice Department announced last year that it was suing four New Jersey cities, accusing local officials of obstructing federal law and undermining efforts to enforce immigration laws through their sanctuary city policies.

Michael Sinkewicz of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.