A Colombian TikTok influencer who warned undocumented migrants about ICE raids across California has been deported after a dramatic livestream arrest. Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, 24, was kicked out of the US last week after two months in federal custody.
Live Arrest Caught on Camera
Mafla-Martinez, known online as @tatianamartinez_02, built nearly 50,000 TikTok followers by sharing real-time ICE operation locations in Los Angeles and beyond. On August 15, she was live streaming from inside her Tesla when federal agents swarmed her car in downtown LA.
Social media erupted as videos showed officers yanking the influencer from the vehicle while she screamed, “Wait! Wait! I’ll get out!” Her wig flew off during the tussle. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Mafla-Martinez was arrested for driving under the influence and illegal residency.
“This criminal illegal alien entered in 2022 and was released by the Biden administration,” McLaughlin blasted, echoing Trump-era tough talk on immigration.
Medical Drama and Defiant Lawyer Claims
The influencer claimed she suffered shortness of breath during arrest, receiving hospital treatment before ICE detained her. McLaughlin insisted she was properly treated and held pending deportation.
Mafla-Martinez’s lawyer, Carlos Jurado, argued she was targeted for exposing ICE raids on social media. “She was silenced,” he told ABC7. He alleged agents taunted her about filming ICE and refused to show a warrant during arrest.
Federal officials disputed the claims, insisting the arrest was legal and purely criminal.
Tow Truck Chaos Adds Insult to Injury
As Mafla-Martinez was detained, another alleged undocumented migrant, Bobby Nunez, dragged an ICE patrol vehicle away with a tow truck amid laughter. The footage showed him teasing ICE agents in hot pursuit.
Authorities charged Nunez with federal theft of government property. He pled not guilty and faces trial this November, with US Attorney Bill Essayli warning, “He can laugh behind bars.”
Free Speech vs. Enforcement: The Hot Debate
The case fuels fierce debate on whether undocumented migrants can lawfully document government activity without punishment. The ACLU called for an investigation, warning of chilling effects on immigrant communities trying to share raid warnings.
Mafla-Martinez’s TikTok content gave vital advice on navigating ICE encounters amid heightened 2025 deportations—expected to total 600,000 this year alone, a record surge under Trump’s policy ramp-up.
Legacy of a Digital Activist
Despite bruising and detention, Mafla-Martinez stayed mentally strong, fighting deportation until the end. She was sent back to Colombia after two months, her arrest a flashpoint in the battle between immigration enforcement and digital activism.
Her final videos kept sharing ICE raids to protect vulnerable migrants. Whether her deportation will silence activists or spark more resistance remains uncertain—but it’s clear this case will shape the future of immigration coverage online.
