Fuentes, a longtime civil rights attorney running for Fresno City Council's District 1 seat, has campaigned on his experience handling "white collar fraud and civil rights violations." His campaign website does not mention his current role with the U.S. Attorney's Office, where he has been assigned to more than 100 cases representing ICE during the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts.
"As a private citizen, you know, I'm tasked with speaking out when I think the law is not being followed when I think the law needs to be changed," Fuentes said.
The issue has drawn attention as some attorneys who opposed the administration's immigration policies resigned from federal service. Fuentes chose to remain in his position.
When asked why he continues serving in the role while opposing aspects of the administration's immigration agenda, Fuentes acknowledged the criticism.
"If you oppose it as a Fresno City Council candidate, why not leave office?" he was asked.
"Yeah, and that's it. And that's a good question..." Fuentes replied.
He said he believes he can still have a positive impact within the system.
"If I ever reach a point where I think that I'm no longer able to affect good within this system," Fuentes said. "If I ever reach that point, then I'll resign."
Asked whether he was committing to resigning, Fuentes responded, "At this point? There is no commitment to a resignation."
Fuentes said immigration cases make up only a small portion of his workload and maintained that his level of involvement in many of those matters has been limited.
However, Fresno immigration attorney George Rios questioned that characterization, pointing to court records that show Fuentes entered an appearance in a case involving a Fresno father who has been detained since September 2025 after a traffic stop.
"It seems and appears that he has now taken on a substantial caseload in which he has to defend the federal government's actions..." Rios said.
Fuentes denied having direct involvement in that particular case.
"The fact of the matter is that case involving the father and the three US children, I have had nothing to do with that case," he said.
Fuentes argued that criticism of his work is being used to undermine his campaign.
"I think my track record is very clear, and it's in line with the work that I've tried to do in my current position, where again I've tried to uphold the law," he said.
The issue has also become a point of contention in the District 1 race. Fuentes and fellow candidate Naindeep Singh advanced from the June primary and are set to face each other again in November after being separated by roughly 2 percentage points.
In a statement, Singh criticized Fuentes' role in immigration litigation.
"It is deeply disturbing that my opponent continues to serve the Trump administration and argues on ICE's behalf in at least 124 immigration cases to separate families, including the case of a Fresno father of three U.S. citizen children detained since last September after a traffic stop, and limit due process.
"Fresno is one of the most diverse cities in America. Our immigrant families are not a political talking point; they are Fresno. The farmworker who feeds his own children by feeding this Valley. The small-business owner who opened a shop on a borrowed dream. The neighbor who helped build the streets we walk on. When Trump moves to tear a parent from their children, Fresno should stand between them. We should not send our own lawyers to help.
"This is fundamentally a question of whose side you're on. And I know where I stand.
"On the City Council, I will stand without compromise with every family in District 1 and every resident fighting for constitutional rights. I will not let this administration bully our city, whether it's ripping families apart, threatening vital services, or withholding the federal dollars Fresno needs to test rape kits and protect victims of violent crime.
"I won't play both sides of this fight. I will only ever stand with Fresno's residents."
The issue is likely to remain a focal point in the District 1 campaign as voters choose between Fuentes and Singh in November.
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