LOS ANGELES, CA - Law Enforcement Today previously reported on a suspect who used a "flamethrower" near the Los Angeles fire zones and was arrested for his actions. The suspect, identified as Juan Manuel Sierra-Levya, illegally crossed into the United States at the southern border and is currently in custody due to a probation violation. He has not yet been charged with arson.
According to Fox News, sources with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that Sierra-Levya is from Mexico. ICE intends to place a detainer request on him, which is a request that ICE be notified on any release so the suspect can be transferred into their custody and potentially deported.
However, ICE does not expect it to be honored as California is a "sanctuary state" that largely limits local and state law enforcement cooperation with the federal agency. According to the New York Post, one law enforcement source said, "The lack of communication between local and federal law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles due to sanctuary policies put in place by LA city council and Governor Newsom, have resulted in many arrests that have been unreported to and followed up by ICE."
He added, "Many of which are criminals who have numerous encounters with local law enforcement for serious crimes." California's sanctuary state law, passed 2017, ensures that no state resources are used to assist federal immigration enforcement. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed an ordinance in November 2024 that prohibits the use of city resources and personnel to carry out federal immigration enforcement.
A Los Angeles law enforcement source previously told Fox News Digital that it's not uncommon to find people have intentionally set wildfires. The source said, "When you have wind conditions like this, it brings out the serial arsonists, who are sickos."
It should be noted that as of this writing, there have been no confirmed connections between arson and any of the fires in Los Angeles as of last week. Sierra-Levya was seen in a viral video being confronted and apprehended by Los Angeles residents in a citizens' arrest. He was eventually arrested by police with an alleged blowtorch after a group of local residents grabbed him near the Kenneth Fire.
He is shown in the video holding a torch head and a yellow fuel tank before being taken to the ground by at least five residents. Sierra-Levya has a lengthy rap sheet in Los Angeles County and has been convicted of multiple crimes, including assault with a deadly weapon in 2023. He has collectively spent more than two years in jail. It is not clear where or when he crossed into the United States.
Illegal immigration has been a top political issue and the Trump administration is expected to launch a massive deportation operation once it takes office in the coming days. Some states have said they will cooperate with the operation, while other state and local officials said they will not.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he wants to work with the incoming administration on deporting those who are violent criminals. However, the Trump administration may have the hardest job in California where there is not only a sanctuary state law in place, but also efforts in local jurisdictions to go even further, forbidding ICE cooperation.
According to Fox News, sources with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that Sierra-Levya is from Mexico. ICE intends to place a detainer request on him, which is a request that ICE be notified on any release so the suspect can be transferred into their custody and potentially deported.
However, ICE does not expect it to be honored as California is a "sanctuary state" that largely limits local and state law enforcement cooperation with the federal agency. According to the New York Post, one law enforcement source said, "The lack of communication between local and federal law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles due to sanctuary policies put in place by LA city council and Governor Newsom, have resulted in many arrests that have been unreported to and followed up by ICE."
He added, "Many of which are criminals who have numerous encounters with local law enforcement for serious crimes." California's sanctuary state law, passed 2017, ensures that no state resources are used to assist federal immigration enforcement. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed an ordinance in November 2024 that prohibits the use of city resources and personnel to carry out federal immigration enforcement.
A Los Angeles law enforcement source previously told Fox News Digital that it's not uncommon to find people have intentionally set wildfires. The source said, "When you have wind conditions like this, it brings out the serial arsonists, who are sickos."
It should be noted that as of this writing, there have been no confirmed connections between arson and any of the fires in Los Angeles as of last week. Sierra-Levya was seen in a viral video being confronted and apprehended by Los Angeles residents in a citizens' arrest. He was eventually arrested by police with an alleged blowtorch after a group of local residents grabbed him near the Kenneth Fire.
He is shown in the video holding a torch head and a yellow fuel tank before being taken to the ground by at least five residents. Sierra-Levya has a lengthy rap sheet in Los Angeles County and has been convicted of multiple crimes, including assault with a deadly weapon in 2023. He has collectively spent more than two years in jail. It is not clear where or when he crossed into the United States.
Illegal immigration has been a top political issue and the Trump administration is expected to launch a massive deportation operation once it takes office in the coming days. Some states have said they will cooperate with the operation, while other state and local officials said they will not.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he wants to work with the incoming administration on deporting those who are violent criminals. However, the Trump administration may have the hardest job in California where there is not only a sanctuary state law in place, but also efforts in local jurisdictions to go even further, forbidding ICE cooperation.
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