Union City, NJ
New Jersey immigration agents apprehended two individuals following their conviction for a serious child sex crime.
Nicolosa Garcia, 42, and Umana Saez, 36, were taken into custody after a thorough federal investigation linked to homeland security efforts.
Garcia, a Mexican national, had been convicted of jeopardizing the welfare of New Jersey children, while Saez, a Salvadoran and registered sex offender, was found guilty of child exploitation. Both were arrested without incident.
“We’re criminal investigators. Our goal is to trace the leads until there’s nothing left,” said John Barone, the special assistant agent at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), who spearheaded the operation.
“This is a significant win for the community. They’ve been convicted of a truly heinous crime,” Barone told the Post.
“They will be removed today and entered into the deportation process to return to their home countries.”
The ICE operation faced criticism, with some accusing agents of casting a wide net to meet a quota of 3,000 arrests daily across the nation. However, on that particular Monday, HSI agents concentrated on capturing these two convicted offenders.
The operation began around 5 am, with agents gathering in a dimly lit area of Newark to discuss their plan for the day.
They traveled to Garcia’s home in Union City, parking discreetly nearby.
After hours of surveillance with no sign of Garcia, the team decided to continue watching rather than attempt to knock on the door.
Officials noted that illegal immigration concerns have escalated since President Trump initiated a comprehensive crackdown.
Consulting a neighbor revealed that while Saenz’s family owned a nearby house, he didn’t reside there. Eventually, investigators located him at a Newark warehouse where he was employed.
The agent quickly spoke to the manager, and Saenz was apprehended without resistance.
Meanwhile, Garcia finally emerged from her house and was immediately intercepted by federal agents.
The careful strategies employed that day are characteristic of HSI’s typical operations, as Barone explained.
“Today, my patience and determination proved crucial. We successfully removed two child predators from the streets, and they were living illegally in this country,” Barone reflected.
“Individuals living illegally often want to remain hidden. Sometimes, addresses can lead to dead ends, and their locations aren’t as straightforward as they might seem. But in this case, we followed up on leads and executed the arrests,” he added.
“Our primary concern is ensuring safety throughout these operations.”
