Rafael Vladimirovi Sarkisyan/Azerbaijan/Manufacturing Controlled Substance, Arson, Cruelty to Animals

On November 25, Enforcement and Removal Operations officers in Los Angeles arrested Rafael Vladimirovi Sarkisyan, a 45‑year‑old national of Azerbaijan. Sarkisyan was previously convicted of manufacturing a controlled substance, causing a fire that damaged a structure, and cruelty to animals, reflecting a combination of drug, property, and animal abuse offenses.​

After his arrest, Sarkisyan was placed in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, where he remains pending removal proceedings. These proceedings will determine when he will be removed from the United States and returned to Azerbaijan, with his criminal history placing the case in a higher‑priority enforcement category.​

Officials have not released further personal background information beyond what is tied to his convictions, emphasizing instead his arrest, record, and current detention status as the basis for ongoing immigration action.