Alberto, a 59-year-old immigrant who worked as a confidential informant for immigration enforcement in the 1990s, is now being pursued by ICE. He helped agents arrest undocumented workers in exchange for promises of legal status, but only received temporary work permits.
After building a life in Fresno as a surgical technician and homeowner, he was arrested and detained for nearly four months. His application for an S visa, which could grant permanent residency, has been ignored by the government.
- Alberto worked undercover for the INS from 1992 to 1996, infiltrating farms in the Central Valley. - He received temporary work permits but never a green card, despite risking his life.
- In 2025, he was arrested by ICE at a scheduled appointment in Fresno and detained near Bakersfield. - Immigration lawyers say such promises to informants are often unfulfilled, leaving them vulnerable.
Alberto's case illustrates the precarious situation of immigrants who cooperated with authorities but were later abandoned.