Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, a Colombian migrant influencer who often documented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles, was arrested by ICE agents during a livestream on Friday, according to Newsweek.
Martinez entered the United States illegally in 2022 and was later convicted of driving under the influence in Los Angeles, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed.
Video of the arrest shows Martinez behind the wheel of her Tesla when ICE agents pulled her over. “Wait, stop! No, no, no!” she shouted, before yelling “esperte, esperte!” (“wait, wait!” in Spanish) as agents detained her.
She runs a large anti-ICE TikTok account—now agents caught on livestream targeting her in violent arrest.
Agents drag her out of Tesla & throw her on ground where she lay unresponsive—then rushed by ambulance to hospital.
She is well-known to ICE as community activist who films… pic.twitter.com/co7oDbzkxC
— LongTime🤓FirstTime👨💻 (@LongTimeHistory) August 16, 2025
DHS Confirms Arrest and Medical Treatment
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Martinez claimed to have shortness of breath during the arrest and was treated before being taken into ICE custody.
“During her arrest, Martinez claimed to experience shortness of breath. She was given proper medical treatment and will be held in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,” McLaughlin told the Daily Mail.
The department also posted about the arrest on social media, emphasizing that Martinez’s prior DUI conviction and illegal status made her subject to deportation.
Supporters Call It “Targeted”
Some activists and left-wing accounts criticized the arrest, calling it an attempt to silence Martinez, who had gained over 40,000 TikTok followers by posting videos of ICE operations.
One account claimed the arrest was “violent” and designed “to make an example out of her.” Others shared clips of ICE officers pulling Martinez from her car, while DHS dismissed allegations of brutality.
Broader Crackdown on Immigration Enforcement
The arrest comes as the Trump administration and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ramp up immigration enforcement.
DHS noted in a post that California’s policies on driver licensing for undocumented immigrants have contributed to recent public safety concerns, referencing a fatal Florida crash caused by an illegal immigrant truck driver licensed in California.
In addition, DHS said another individual attempted to interfere during Martinez’s arrest by towing a government police vehicle.
“Anyone who seeks to impede law enforcement will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” McLaughlin stated.
