Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 28, was arrested for backing the militant group, the federal prosecutors said.
A resident of Long Beach, California, has been arrested on suspicion of funding and backing the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the central district of California said that Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 28, communicated with two ISIS fighters via social media, telling them: « soon, I’ll be joining. »
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Attorney’s Office for further comment.Why It Matters
There has been an immigration crackdown in the U.S. against figures who are deemed enemies of the country, including gangs involved in drug and human trafficking, as well as suspected terrorists.What To Know
Villanueva is a lawful permanent U.S. resident from the Philippines, who, according to federal prosecutors, communicated with two self-identified ISIS fighters and pledged allegiance and expressed desire to fight for the terrorist organization.
