ICE Newark arrests another 4 illegally present child sex offenders as part of ongoing operation

NEWARK, N.J. — ICE agencies in Newark arrested an additional four illegally present child predators since July 21, making a total of eight arrests in an ongoing effort targeting illegal aliens with histories of child exploitation.

ICE Homeland Security Investigations, with support from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark arrested Daniel Garcia Cruz, a 35-year-old Mexican national, on Aug. 3 in Hoboken, New Jersey. Garcia was sentenced to three years of probation after being convicted for criminal sexual contact March 24, 2023, in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson County.

Manuel Gregorio Loja Loja and Leonidas Rivera Gonzalez were arrested by ICE HSI and ERO Newark on July 24. Loja, 36, an Ecuadorian national, was sentenced to a three-year term of probation approximately June 24, 2024, in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County, for false imprisonment and cruelty and neglect of children. Rivera, 40, a Salvadorian national, was sentenced to parole supervision for life after being found guilty of endangering-sexual conduct with child by a non-caretaker approximately July 14, 2023, in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson County.

Jeferson Isaac Flores Pineda, a 19-year-old Honduran national, was arrested by ICE HSI and ERO Newark July 31 in West New York, New Jersey. Flores was arrested by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office for the offense of aggravated sexual assault and false imprisonment on June 6, 2022. On Dec. 1, 2023, the Juvenile Court of Hudson County convicted him of false imprisonment.

Garcia, Loja and Rivera entered the United States at an unknown date through an unknown location without inspection or parole from an immigration officer. Flores was encountered by the United States Border Patrol April 14, 2019, in Hidalgo, Texas, was determined to be present illegally but later, in June 2022, an immigration judge in Newark, New Jersey, terminated his immigration case.

Four other illegally present child predators were arrested prior to July 21 and announced in a July 28 press release on ICE.gov.

• Gerson Jose Saenz Umana, a 27-year-old Salvadorian national and registered sex offender with a sealed criminal history that involves the exploitation of a child.
• Javier Garcia Nicolasa, a 42-year-old Mexican national who was convicted on Dec. 1, 2023, of endangering sexual conduct with a child by caretaker and sentenced to three years in prison.
• Juan Villatoro Valle, a 45-year-old Salvadorian national who 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.
• Reyes Peralta-Salazar, 38, a Mexican national who was arrested on Sept. 14, 2023, for criminal sexual conduct and endangering – sexual conduct with child. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail.

All individuals were required to register as sex offenders in the state of New Jersey and are being held in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

ICE agencies in Newark worked with the Department of Homeland Security Cyber Crimes Center Child Exploitation Investigations Unit to proactively target convicted criminal alien sex offenders currently residing within the U.S.

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.