Police Refute ICE Narrative of Santa Monica Arrest

ICE says Santa Monica police released a man despite an immigration hold; police say state law required his release

August 7, 2026 · Santa Monica

Santa Monica police are disputing ICE's account of a July arrest outside the city's Public Safety Facility, after the agency accused the department of releasing a man back into the community rather than holding him for federal officers.

ICE identified the man this week as [Juan Manuel Saravia](https://www.smdp.com/ice-releases-identify-of-man-arrested-outside-smpd-headquarters/), a Salvadoran national the agency described as a twice-convicted burglar.

In a social media post, ICE said Santa Monica police refused to honor a detainer, forcing federal officers to arrest Saravia themselves on July 23 near police headquarters. He remains in ICE custody pending removal to El Salvador, the agency said.

SMPD officers had arrested Saravia earlier that morning on suspicion of vehicle burglary and possession of burglary tools, before citing and releasing him, which the department says was required under state law.

A police spokesman told the *Santa Monica Lookout* the department had no legal basis to detain him, citing state propositions and the county's zero-bail policy, which bar holding suspects arrested for nonviolent crimes.

The department has said it does not participate in civil immigration enforcement, consistent with the California Values Act, and that there was no coordinated handoff with federal authorities.

The spokesman also rejected ICE's detainer claim, saying the department is never shown ICE detainers. Instead, suspects in custody are flagged in an FBI database accessible to federal agencies, which can then make arrests on their own.

The spokesperson this was the case for Saravia, who was arrested outside the station following a [brief foot chase.](https://palisadesnews.com/man-detained-by-ice-outside-santa-monica-city-hall-right-after-being-released-on-burglary-charges/)