A citizen of Kazakhstan, Yelaman Baltegerei, has been detained in the US state of California on suspicion of links to terrorism. He will remain in custody until his deportation is arranged by US authorities.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE DETENTION
According to Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles (HSI Los Angeles) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), on 5 June, federal agents detained Yelaman Baltegerei in the city of Commerce, California.
Agents from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) unit also took part in the operation.
ON WHAT GROUNDS WAS HE DETAINED
The detention was carried out in accordance with a final removal order issued under the US Immigration and Nationality Act.
According to ICE, in the summer of 2025, an immigration judge ordered the deportation of the Kazakh citizen, but he failed to appear at the court hearing.
WHAT HAVE THE US AGENCIES SAID
A statement from HSI Los Angeles says the detainee is linked to an international terrorist organisation listed as a terrorist group by the US State Department.
ICE, for its part, stated that the man was the target of the operation as an individual whom the agency considers known or suspected to be involved in terrorism and who has a final removal order.
The Kazakh national will remain in custody until preparations for his deportation are complete.
ICE also stated that it is placing a particular focus on detaining illegal immigrants who are known or suspected to be involved in terrorism.