NEWARK, N.J. — Federal immigration agents arrested four convicted child predators living illegally in New Jersey last month as part of an ongoing national effort targeting sex offenders who entered or remained in the United States unlawfully.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark, in coordination with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), announced the arrests were made during a four-day sweep under “Operation Apex Predator,” a federal initiative aimed at removing criminal aliens with convictions for child exploitation.
On July 21, ICE agents arrested Gerson Jose Saenz Umana, 27, a Salvadoran national, and Javier Garcia Nicolasa, 42, a Mexican national. Garcia Nicolasa was previously convicted on Dec. 1, 2023, of endangering sexual conduct with a child by a caretaker and sentenced to three years in prison. His date and method of entry into the U.S. remain unknown.
Umana is a registered sex offender with a sealed criminal history involving child exploitation. He was first encountered by immigration authorities in November 2012 near Falfurrias, Texas, after crossing the border as an unaccompanied minor.
Just days earlier, on July 17, ICE arrested two more convicted sex offenders: Juan Villatoro Valle, 45, also of El Salvador, and Reyes Peralta-Salazar, 38, of Mexico. Both were found to be residing unlawfully in the U.S.
Villatoro Valle was convicted on Aug. 2, 2019, of multiple crimes including sexual assault of a child under 13, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and endangering with sexual conduct. He served five years in prison. Records show he entered the U.S. without inspection before 2000 and was granted Temporary Protected Status in 2006. His request for permanent residency was denied in 2009.
Peralta-Salazar was arrested on Sept. 14, 2023, for criminal sexual conduct involving a child and sentenced to 180 days in jail. His entry date and method into the U.S. are also unknown.
All four individuals were required to register as sex offenders in New Jersey. They are currently in ICE custody and face pending immigration hearings or removal proceedings.
Operation Apex Predator is overseen by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Crimes Center and the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit. The program targets non-citizens with criminal convictions related to child sexual abuse or exploitation.
ICE agents say the arrests are part of a broader effort to remove violent predators who pose a danger to children and communities.