Particle.news

Download on the App Store

ICE Arrest of Colombian TikTok Creator in Los Angeles Prompts Questions Over Force as DHS Cites DUI Conviction

Advocates say her custody location remains unclear.

Overview

  • Leidy Tatiana Mafla Martínez was detained on August 15 while live-streaming from a car in Los Angeles, with video verified by CNN showing agents pulling her from the vehicle and restraining her on the ground.
  • She lost consciousness during the arrest, was taken by ambulance to a hospital, and was later placed in immigration custody, according to news reports.
  • DHS identified her as an undocumented Colombian who entered the U.S. in 2022 and previously pleaded no contest in a Los Angeles DUI case that led to probation and required programs.
  • A DHS official publicly framed her as a criminal noncitizen and characterized the action as routine enforcement under the current administration’s approach.
  • Her followers and immigrant advocates denounced the apparent use of force and called for transparency, noting unresolved questions about her exact detention location and the status of her vehicle.