A Colombian TikTok influencer who built a substantial following by alerting undocumented migrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations across California has been deported following her dramatic arrest during a livestream.
Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, 24, was removed from the United States last week after spending two months in federal detention following her August arrest for driving under the influence and residing illegally in the country.
The social media personality, who posted under the username tatianamartinez_02, had amassed nearly 50,000 followers on TikTok by sharing real-time information about ICE raid locations in Los Angeles and other California cities, effectively functioning as an early warning system for undocumented communities.
Livestream Arrest Goes Viral
Mafla-Martinez’s own encounter with immigration authorities unfolded dramatically on 15 August whilst she was broadcasting live to her followers from inside her Tesla in downtown Los Angeles.
Footage that subsequently circulated widely across social media platforms showed federal agents surrounding her vehicle before forcibly removing the screaming influencer and pinning her to the ground. The video captured Mafla-Martinez yelling in Spanish, “Wait! Wait! I’ll get out,” as officers extracted her from the car, with her wig becoming dislodged during the struggle.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the arrest, stating the Colombian national had been convicted of driving under the influence in Los Angeles and entered the country illegally in 2022.
This criminal illegal alien entered the country in 2022 and was released by the Biden administration,” McLaughlin declared in a statement posted to social media, using language that has become characteristic of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration rhetoric.
Medical Incident During Detention
The 24-year-old claimed to experience shortness of breath during her arrest and received medical treatment at White Memorial Hospital before being transferred to an ICE detention facility in southern California, where she remained until her deportation last week.
McLaughlin addressed the medical episode, confirming Mafla-Martinez had been provided proper treatment and would be held in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
The assistant secretary characterised the influencer’s activities as obstructing immigration enforcement, suggesting her social media presence had made her a target for federal authorities implementing President Trump’s mass deportation agenda.
Tow Truck Driver Adds to Chaos
The arrest scene descended into further chaos when Bobby Nunez, described by authorities as another undocumented migrant, allegedly towed away an ICE patrol vehicle being used during Mafla-Martinez’s detention.
Video footage showed Nunez laughing and filming himself as an ICE agent chased his tow truck down the street after he hooked up the government vehicle. The incident sparked outrage amongst immigration enforcement officials who viewed it as brazen interference with federal operations.
Acting US Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli shared footage of Nunez’s subsequent arrest, declaring the tow truck driver had made a catastrophic error in judgement.
“Apparently he thought it would be funny to interfere with our immigration enforcement operations,” Essayli stated. “Now he can laugh behind bars while he faces justice.”
Nunez was arrested on 2 September and charged with theft of government property, a federal felony carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. He pleaded not guilty on 29 September, with trial scheduled for 18 November.
Lawyer Claims Targeting
Immigration attorney Carlos Jurado, who represented Mafla-Martinez in her unsuccessful deportation case, argued his client had been specifically targeted by authorities because of her social media activism documenting ICE operations.
We believe, at this point, based on things that have been said to her, is that, because she was out filming ICE activities, she was targeted,” Jurado told ABC7 Eyewitness News.
The lawyer alleged that during detention, agents taunted his client with questions such as whether she thought she could record their activities without facing repercussions. Jurado also claimed Mafla-Martinez repeatedly requested to see a warrant during her arrest, but none was presented.
“Tatiana’s arrest wasn’t about a DUI, it was about silencing someone who exposed what they didn’t want the public to see,” Jurado insisted.
However, federal authorities maintained the arrest stemmed from legitimate criminal charges and immigration violations rather than constituting retaliation for protected speech.
Free Speech Debate Intensifies
The case has reignited fierce debate about the boundaries between documenting government activity and obstructing law enforcement, with civil liberties organisations expressing concern about whether First Amendment protections extend to migrants without legal status.
The American Civil Liberties Union called for transparency and an investigation into whether Mafla-Martinez faced detention specifically because of her speech documenting immigration enforcement operations.
“This is about more than one influencer,” an ACLU spokesperson stated. “It’s about whether documenting government activity can get you detained, or worse.”
The organisation warned the case could have chilling effects on immigrant communities’ ability to share information about enforcement activities, potentially leaving vulnerable populations without advance warning of raids.
Immigration Content Creation
Mafla-Martinez had built her substantial TikTok following by creating Spanish-language content focused on immigration enforcement under the Trump administration’s renewed push for mass deportations.
Her videos typically documented ICE operations across Los Angeles, shared guidance about legal rights when stopped by immigration authorities, and offered commentary critical of enforcement practices. The content resonated strongly with immigrant communities navigating an increasingly hostile environment.
Beyond alerting followers to raid locations, Mafla-Martinez provided practical advice about how to respond if approached by ICE agents, information many undocumented migrants found invaluable as federal operations intensified throughout 2025.
Unprecedented Deportation Numbers
Federal authorities confirmed the United States remains on track to deport 600,000 undocumented migrants by the end of 2025, with ICE and other agencies having arrested more than 457,000 individuals so far this year.
The figures represent a dramatic escalation from previous years, reflecting President Trump’s campaign promise to implement the largest deportation operation in American history.
McLaughlin praised Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for what she characterised as jump-starting an agency that had been vilified and prevented from performing its duties during the previous four years.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem have jumpstarted an agency that was vilified and barred from doing its job for the last four years,” McLaughlin declared, crediting the administration’s approach with enabling ICE to resume aggressive enforcement.
Legacy and Impact
The deportation of Mafla-Martinez marks a significant moment in the ongoing tension between immigration enforcement and digital activism, with her case likely to influence how future content creators approach documenting government operations.
Her attorney reported she remained mentally resilient during detention despite visible bruising from her arrest, determined to fight deportation until the end. However, those efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful, resulting in her removal to Colombia last week after two months in federal custody.
The influencer’s final videos before arrest showed her continuing to share ICE locations with followers, maintaining her mission of protecting undocumented communities even as federal authorities closed in on her own situation.
Whether her deportation serves as a deterrent to other immigrant activists or galvanises further resistance to enforcement operations remains to be seen, with both sides claiming her case validates their respective positions on immigration policy and enforcement practices.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
