An illegal immigrant from Mexico, named as a person of interest in the Los Angeles area fires, may avoid being detained by immigration officials because of California's sanctuary laws.
Immigration officials confirmed Tuesday that Juan Manuel Sierra is a Mexican national in the U.S. illegally. He is suspected of trying to start fires in Woodland Hills, close to the Kenneth fire, after being found with a blowtorch, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Why It Matters
While Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer for Sierra, California's sanctuary laws may stop local law enforcement from notifying the federal agency about his immigration status or when he may be released.
President-elect Donald Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan, have promised to go against sanctuary laws to achieve their mass deportation plan. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump shared a text message which said there was "irony" in homeowners paying taxes that were being diverted to help migrants in the sanctuary city, rather than funneling the money into fire prevention and fighting resources.
What To Know
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has been investigating the causes of fires in the area, which were accelerated by high winds and dry conditions. Officers suspected arson in the Woodland Hills area and made the arrest Thursday.
Sierra was detained on a felony probation violation by the LAPD. It was not immediately clear why he was not charged with arson.
Who Is Juan Manuel Sierra?
According to ICE, Sierra is a 33-year-old Mexican national who arrived in the United States illegally. He also goes by the names Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva, Juan Leva, Leyva Moniker and Juan Sierra.
He entered the U.S. at an unknown date and has had multiple encounters with law enforcement since November 2016. Sierra was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon on October 10, 2023, in Van Nuys, California. The Times reported he had been under probation supervision since that time.
Arrest records viewed by Newsweek showed that Sierra had at least four encounters with L.A. law enforcement over the past year. ICE said Sierra was arrested by the LAPD on January 10 on a felony probation violation in connection with the California fires.
When an illegal immigrant is charged with a crime by local law enforcement, ICE can issue a detainer for that individual, meaning its officers can take custody of them once they are released from jail or finish a sentence.
Under California state law, police and sheriffs cannot ask individuals about their immigration status or share such details with ICE. The idea is to protect vulnerable migrants from overreach by immigration authorities, but the system has also been criticized for standing in the way of deporting criminal migrants.
While ICE confirmed it had lodged a detainer on Sierra, the LAPD told Newsweek it did not have such information.
What Caused The Fires In LA? What We Know
Officials are beginning to work on the origins and causes of the fires.
In the case of the Kenneth fire, arson is suspected. The Palisades fire, the largest, was potentially caused by a reignited New Year's Eve firework, The Washington Post reported, while the Eaton and Hurst fires may have been the result of downed power lines.
Where Did The Kenneth Fire Start?
According to CAL FIRE, the Kenneth fire started in the Victory Boulevard area of West Hills on January 9.
It covered about 1,052 acres, straddling Los Angeles and Ventura counties before it was fully contained on January 12.
What People Are Saying
ICE, in a statement: "Sierra was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department Jan. 10 on a felony probation violation. Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations placed an immigration detainer on Sierra January 12."
What Happens Next
The LAPD and FBI are continuing to investigate the various fires around the city. Chief Jim McDonnell said at a briefing Tuesday morning that officers were continuing to patrol areas impacted by the fires.
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