Federal immigration authorities have deported a Nicaraguan national following an undercover child-exploitation investigation, according to a senior government official.
The man told Newsweek he hadn't committed any crimes, but did not respond after a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allegation that he solicited sex from a minor was presented to him.
Why It Matters
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has long highlighted its efforts to arrest and detain individuals living unlawfully in the United States, particularly those accused or convicted of serious offenses. However, the agency’s enforcement practices have drawn scrutiny. Under President Donald Trump, critics have questioned the scope of ICE operations, pointing to cases in which nonviolent immigrants without prior criminal records were also detained under similar initiatives.
What To Know
DHS told Newsweek that Nuralys Jose Umanzor Molina, a citizen of Nicaragua, was identified as a suspect during a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operation targeting child sex trafficking.
HSI, a division of ICE, focuses on investigating crimes such as human trafficking, child exploitation, narcotics smuggling, financial offenses, and other transnational criminal activities.
Officials allege that Umanzor Molina solicited sex from a minor during the course of the investigation.
"HSI and ICE arrested this child predator on June 24, 2025. His rap sheet includes arrests for possession of marijuana and a failure to appear in court," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek.
Umanzor Molina, 39, a construction foreman who worked on projects at Miami International Airport, was detained in a day care parking lot in Aventura, Florida.
DHS officials said that he entered the United States on January 16, 2008, through Miami, on a tourist visa that expired on July 15, 2008. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal in 2013, but Umanzor Molina remained in the country unlawfully for several years, according to DHS.
Following his arrest in June, ICE officials carried out the deportation order. The agency confirmed that Umanzor Molina was removed from the United States on August 21.
What People Are Saying
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek: “Thanks to the brave men and women of ICE and HSI this child predator was removed from our country on August 21, 2025."
"They came out of the vehicles and pointed guns and a rifle at me," Nuralys Jose Umanzor Molina told Newsweek. "They told me that if I don't go out, they will block my window. I was very calm because I knew that I hadn’t committed any crimes and had all my papers."
What Happens Next
ICE and DHS officials said they will continue conducting operations targeting individuals accused of serious crimes, including human trafficking and child exploitation. The agencies emphasized that their enforcement priorities remain focused on public safety threats and those with outstanding removal orders.
