A Honduran man recently acquitted of drug dealing in San Francisco is a victim, not a criminal, according to the city’s public defender.

On Tuesday, San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju stated that the man was a human trafficking victim and called on the District Attorney’s Office to help protect him from deportation. Raju described the acquittal as a significant victory, highlighting how innocent individuals are trafficked into the U.S. and forced into criminal activity.

“The jury found him not guilty,” Raju said. “He’s a human trafficking victim, and California law protects such individuals.”

Raju explained that the man grew up in poverty and was trafficked to the U.S. under the false promise of a better life, only to be left in debt to his traffickers. The public defender’s office is withholding the man’s name for safety reasons.

“We’re not releasing his name because he could face death threats,” said Elizabeth Camacho from the Public Defender’s Office. The office is also requesting that District Attorney Brooke Jenkins approve a U Visa to allow the man to remain in the U.S. legally and find work.

However, Jenkins stated, “I will not sign a U Visa in this case unless there’s documented proof that this person has been a victim of a crime.”

The Public Defender’s Office expressed concern that if the Visa request is denied, the man’s future and safety would be uncertain.