AColombian immigrant TikTok influencer was detained by immigration agents after a confrontation outside her Los Angeles residence that unfolded live on social media.
Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez was apprehended by federal authorities while streaming on TikTok from her Tesla on Friday, August 15, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek that Martinez was arrested because of a prior DUI conviction in Los Angeles.
Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez was apprehended by federal authorities on Friday, August 15, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). TwitterWhy It Matters
Immigration authorities have been under heightened scrutiny amid allegations of misconduct, with the agency at the center of the national debate over immigration policy. That spotlight has widened since President Donald Trump ordered a ramp-up in arrests to fulfill his pledge of mass deportations, prompting renewed questions about the legality and human impact of ICE\’s enforcement practices. The widespread deportation efforts have attracted resistance from immigrant rights advocates.
What To Know
Martinez—who entered the U.S. in 2022, according to DHS—posts under the handle @tatianamartinez_02. She has gained attention for documenting ICE operations, sharing “know your rights” guidance, and offering commentary on immigration enforcement.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show Martinez seated in a Tesla when federal agents approached, opened the driver\’s side door, and pulled her onto the pavement. The video shows her being restrained face down with a covering placed over her head, and observers can be heard calling for medical assistance before she appears motionless.
McLaughlin added that the arrest was further complicated when “an individual unlawfully towed a government police vehicle.”
Footage on social media shows a federal agent running after a vehicle after the tow truck removes the car.