The name of a federal immigration officer accused of strangling a man in Fitchburg during an immigration arrest has been revealed in court, despite the federal government’s attempts to keep his identity a secret.

The officer’s name is David Jackson, an acting supervisory detention and deportation officer, according to court documents.

Jackson was served a complaint from the lawyers of Carlos Sebastian Zapata Rivera, the Fitchburg man he is accused of strangling on Nov. 6, 2025. An initial lawsuit was filed in December 2025 and Jackson was previously listed as “Unknown Federal Agent John Doe.”

On April 3, 2026, the office of U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley filed a motion requesting that Jackson’s identity remain anonymous throughout the proceedings.

The U.S. Attorney’s office argued revealing Jackson’s name will endanger him and his family and that it will result in him receiving “unwarranted public scrutiny and media attention.”

On April 8, District Judge Margaret R. Guzman ruled against the motion, calling the government’s request ”wildly overbroad," according to court filings.

Additionally, Guzman ruled the motion was filed improperly as the United States is not a party in the case, has not moved to intervene in the case and has not sought to join or become part of the case in any manner, the filings read.

Guzman also said the government’s request would result in the destruction of documents, transcripts and other materials — describing it as a “permanent censoring of information relating to the defendant.”

The judge ordered Jackson’s name to be revealed but noted that his social security number, financial account information, birth date and the names of any minor children would be redacted.

Foley’s office previously requested in February 2026 that Jackson remain anonymous, citing similar reasons in its motion.

Guzman rejected the previous request in March but did not order that Jackson’s name be revealed.

Judge denies request to hide identity of ICE officer in Fitchburg arrest