A California federal prosecutor resigned from his position after facing intense scrutiny for defending federal immigration enforcement actions while simultaneously running for Fresno City Council on an anti-ICE platform, creating a political firestorm in one of the nation’s most diverse cities.

Contradictory Positions Spark Controversy

The prosecutor claimed the Trump administration pushed him out for criticizing ICE publicly, stating he was placed on administrative leave one day after his criticisms became public. He resigned rather than face expected termination, according to his own account. Days earlier, when questioned by ABC 30 about leaving his federal position given his opposition to immigration enforcement as a city council candidate, he refused to commit to resigning, calling it a good question but providing no clear answer.

His city council opponent, Naindeep Singh, alleged the prosecutor argued on behalf of ICE in at least 124 immigration cases involving family separations. Singh emphasized that Fresno’s immigrant families represent the backbone of the community, from farmworkers feeding the valley to small business owners and workers who built the city’s infrastructure. He argued that when families face separation, Fresno should stand between them and federal enforcement, not provide lawyers to assist deportation efforts.

Case Details Fuel Local Backlash

Critics pointed to a 2025 case where the prosecutor defended the federal government against a Fresno father detained since September 2025 following a traffic stop. Fresno immigration attorney George Rios told ABC 30 the prosecutor appeared to have taken on a substantial caseload defending federal government actions in immigration matters. The prosecutor denied direct involvement in the father’s case specifically, claiming he had nothing to do with it despite his official role.

Election Stakes in Diverse District

The controversy unfolds as Singh and the former prosecutor compete for Fresno City Council District 1, representing the eastern section of the city. Councilmember Annalisa Perea currently holds the seat. The election carries significant weight in Fresno, recognized as one of America’s most diverse cities, where immigration policy directly affects thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on agriculture and small businesses throughout California’s Central Valley.