Neighbors and family say a 73-year-old gardener who was detained by federal immigration agents while working in West Hollywood this week has now chosen to self-deport to Mexico. The encounter, which a homeowner watched unfold, left his truck and tools still sitting on the block and has pushed neighbors to quickly raise money to cover his family’s immediate needs.
Alberto Cabral, who his family says has lived in the United States since he was 12 and has no criminal history, decided to leave the country after the detention, according to NBC Los Angeles. His partner, Gloria Blanco, told the station that Cabral takes medication related to a prior stroke, is diabetic and had an open wound, and that he feared spending months in detention without proper medical care. Neighbors described him as a familiar, steady presence on the block and said the decision was driven by urgent health concerns rather than any criminal issues.
Witnesses describe the detention
Neighbors say Cabral was taken while servicing a yard on Gardner Avenue near Hampton Avenue, then placed into a vehicle and driven away, according to a local report. A homeowner in the 1200 block of Gardner Avenue identified Cabral as the gardener and said the scene unfolded quickly and felt alarming, WEHO Times reported.
Neighbors launch fundraiser and worry about care
A GoFundMe organized by neighbors says Cabral was taken earlier this month and asks for donations to cover medications, wound care and household expenses for his wife and elderly mother. Organizers say calls from detention are restricted and that the family needs immediate help while they work to stabilize their finances and day-to-day care.
Why gardeners are especially vulnerable
Advocates point out that landscaping and yard-care jobs are often informal and depend on day-by-day work, which leaves workers exposed to enforcement even as they provide essential services in local neighborhoods. In June 2025, the Los Angeles Times reported that many landscaping workers are Latino immigrants and that recent enforcement sweeps have left crews afraid to show up for jobs despite financial need, a dynamic neighbors say is visible in Cabral’s case.
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to requests for comment, NBC Los Angeles noted. The family says it is consulting with an immigration attorney while neighbors continue to push for support. Community members hope the fundraiser and local organizing will cover urgent expenses while legal options are reviewed…