The West Hollywood community is rallying for the family of Alberto Cabral, who chose to self-deport after being detained by federal agents.
The 73-year-old gardener was servicing a home in West Hollywood last week when he was detained in front of his customer.
Cabral is undocumented but has no criminal history, his family says. Cabral has lived in the United States for more than six decades after arriving at the age of 12.
“It’s really hard,” said Gloria Blanco, Cabral’s partner of 33 years. “He’s a great man. A hardworker.”
Family and neighbors describe Cabral as a hardworking gardener who showed up for everyone, even when his health was not good. Blanco says the 73-year-old broke his tailbone and still went to work when he was detained by ICE. After dealing with several medical issues, Cabral chose to self-deport to Mexico.
The homeowner who witnessed Cabral being detained says the gardener pleaded with agents to be gentle.
“We kind of saw the whole thing unfold,” said Ruby. “Alberto pleaded to them, like ‘I’m injured, I’m older, please just don’t further hurt me.”
The homeowner was the first person to break the devastating news to Cabral’s partner after dropping off his truck and tools.
“He was taken, his tools were left behind, his weed-eater was left just as they dropped it when they approached him. His truck was left behind,” said Ruby. “She was obviously very upset and when she got the truck, it was obviously very real that he wasn’t going to come back home in the truck that day.”
After dealing with several medical issues, Cabral chose the option to self-deport to Mexico.
“He basically decided to auto-deport because he’s on medication for stroke, he’s a diabetic, he had an open wound,” said Blanco. “He just figured he’d be in there for months and months with no medical care.”
Blanco says Cabral is the sole provider for their family. She visited her partner to bring him his medicine in Mexico, but had to return to Los Angeles, where they have their apartment.
“I’m ok here, but I know he’s not ok,” said Blanco.
For now, the family says they’re trying to work with an immigration attorney to better understand their options. Community members and neighbors have attempted to raise money to help Cabral’s family.
DHS and ICE didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on why Cabral was targeted in West Hollywood last week, more than 60 years after he arrived in America.