ICE Newark arrests 4 illegally present child sex offenders as part of Operation Apex Predator
NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Newark, alongside partners from Enforcement and Removal Operations, Newark arrested four illegally present child predators over the course of as many days in connection with an ongoing effort targeting illegal aliens with histories of child exploitation, titled “Operation Apex Predator.”
Personnel with ICE HSI and ERO Newark arrested Gerson Jose Saenz Umana, a 27-year-old El Salvadorian national, and Javier Garcia Nicolasa, a 42-year-old Mexican national, on July 21.
Garcia Nicolasa was convicted on Dec. 1, 2023, of endangering sexual conduct with a child by caretaker. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
He entered the U.S. on an unknown date and through and unknown location.
Umana is a registered sex offender with a sealed criminal history that involves the exploitation of a child.
He was first encountered near Falfurrias, Texas, in November 2012, as an unaccompanied alien child.
Just days prior, on July 17, HSI and ERO Newark personnel made two other arrests of child predators living in New Jersey.
Juan Villatoro Valle, from El Salvador, and Reyes Peralta-Salazar, from Mexico, both illegally present in the United States.
Villatoro Valle, age 45, was convicted on Aug. 2, 2019, of sexual assault involving a victim under the age of 13, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and endangering with sexual conduct. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
Villatoro Valle entered the U.S. without inspection sometime before 2000. He was granted Temporary Protected Status in 2006, but his application for permanent residency was denied in 2009.
Reyes Peralta-Salazar, age 38, was arrested on Sept. 14, 2023, for criminal sexual conduct and endangering – sexual conduct with child. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail.
Peralta-Salazar entered the U.S. without inspection at an unknown date.
All individuals were required to register as sex offenders in the state of New Jersey. All are being held in ICE custody pending either a hearing before an immigration judge or deportation.
Operation Apex Predator is a Department of Homeland Security Cyber Crimes Center Child Exploitation Investigations Unit initiative to proactively target convicted criminal alien sex offenders currently residing within the United States.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)