US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made an arrest of a foreign nationals from Azerbaijan. The individual, whose name is Rafael Vladimirovi Sarkisyan, was arrested in Los Angeles on November 25 and will be held at ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
Sarkisyan's background reveals multiple serious convictions against him. These include cruelty to animals, causing fire damage to property, and manufacturing an illicit substance. According to the ICE statement, Sarkisyan displayed extreme behavior during his arrest by shouting "Allahu Akbar" (an Arabic phrase meaning God is great) while struggling with agents.
While details of how he entered the country are unclear, Azerbaijan has been identified as a location of increased risk for US travelers due to terrorism concerns. In May this year, the U.S Department of State warned against traveling to Azerbaijan citing terrorist groups and potential attacks.
Additionally, the South Caucasus region remains a flashpoint due to recent landmines in Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast and surrounding territories following armed hostilities last year.
President Donald Trump was recently involved in negotiating a peace agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the US that ended decades of conflict, however this does not seem to extend much protection for individuals like Sarkisyan who are subject to deportation from the country.
Sarkisyan's background reveals multiple serious convictions against him. These include cruelty to animals, causing fire damage to property, and manufacturing an illicit substance. According to the ICE statement, Sarkisyan displayed extreme behavior during his arrest by shouting "Allahu Akbar" (an Arabic phrase meaning God is great) while struggling with agents.
While details of how he entered the country are unclear, Azerbaijan has been identified as a location of increased risk for US travelers due to terrorism concerns. In May this year, the U.S Department of State warned against traveling to Azerbaijan citing terrorist groups and potential attacks.
Additionally, the South Caucasus region remains a flashpoint due to recent landmines in Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast and surrounding territories following armed hostilities last year.
President Donald Trump was recently involved in negotiating a peace agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the US that ended decades of conflict, however this does not seem to extend much protection for individuals like Sarkisyan who are subject to deportation from the country.
ICE arresting someone with a history of animal cruelty & manufacturing illicit substances, and they're shouting "Allahu Akbar" during arrest? 
I'm not trying to stir up drama, but what's going on here? Is this guy's bad behavior just a coincidence or is there something more to it? And let's be real, Azerbaijan being a "location of increased risk" for US travelers due to terrorism concerns... that's some sketchy stuff 
this guy's story is so sad 
he's been through some really tough times & it's a shame he's stuck in this cycle of crime & arrest... and now he's gonna be deported back to Azerbaijan? 
️ that can't be easy for him or his family 
the US gov't has taken a lot of risks by trying to help the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, but it seems like there are still so many loose ends 
... hope someone can reach out & help this guy find a better path in life 
. I mean, sure he's got some serious past mistakes - but let's put things into perspective, he's just trying to make a new life in America and ends up getting caught up in the system 
. And yeah, his shout-out might've been extreme, but did we ever expect him to be calm during an arrest? 
The US is full of people with skeletons in their closet and this guy's just trying to survive.
. Let's not forget that President Trump actually helped broker some peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan 
.
. What do you think we can do to help people like Rafael in similar situations? 
OMG I'm still trying to wrap my head around this 
And then he shouts "Allahu Akbar" during the arrest... is he for real tho? 
And what's up with the US gov making a big deal about this guy when there are tons of other immigration issues that need attention? 
. Like, just because there's a risk zone for travelers doesn't mean they're all gonna be terrorists 
. Is it desperation? Desperation to be caught? Or maybe he was just trying to cling to something greater than his own situation? 
The more I think about it, the more I realize that our borders aren't just physical, but also psychological – a reflection of our deepest fears and desires 
.
& then theres this peace agreement that was supposed to bring stability 2 the region 
. and now he's shouting "Allahu Akbar" during his arrest? that's wild 
. gotta feel bad for the dude, but at the same time, can't we just make sure our borders are secure before bringing someone like him into our country?