A federal prosecutor in California has resigned following a confrontation with ICE, where he expressed frustration over perceived support from the left for the agency.
Rob Fuentes, a candidate for the Fresno City Council and a former assistant U.S. attorney, faced backlash from his party regarding his involvement in a deportation case.
In response, he chose to resign, claiming he was “forced out” by the Trump administration.
Fuentes stated, “I was pushed out of the Trump administration for publicly criticizing ICE. The day after my criticisms were made public, I was placed on administrative leave, practically on the brink of termination. I resigned to avoid any further complications.”
Just days prior to his resignation, Fuentes had been asked about remaining in his position during an interview with ABC 30. When questioned about why he didn’t resign from his council candidacy, he hesitated, saying, “That’s a good question…”
Despite the mounting pressure, he mentioned a desire to still contribute positively, indicating he might consider resignation if he fails to do so, though he was not ready to commit at that moment.
Critics have highlighted a lawsuit from 2025, in which the federal government supported a Fresno man detained since that September, following a routine traffic stop.
Immigration attorney George Rios stated that Fuentes seems to be in a significant legal battle defending federal actions.
In defending himself, Fuentes emphasized, “The core issue revolves around an incident with a father and his three American children, and I have no connection to that.”
Naindeep Singh, his opponent on the City Council race, argued that Fuentes has acted in favor of ICE in numerous family separation cases.
Singh remarked, “Fresno is among the most diverse cities in the country. Our immigrant families are not up for debate; they are part of our community.” He elaborated on how local farm workers and small business owners contribute significantly to the area.
“When Trump aims to separate parents from their kids, Fresno should protect them. We shouldn’t send our own lawyers to assist in that,” he added.
Singh and Fuentes are vying for the Ward 1 seat, which is currently held by Annalisa Perea.
