LOS ANGELES — Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a popular TikTok streamer who chronicles police actions and immigration enforcement, was shot by federal officers during an attempted arrest Tuesday morning. The incident has raised significant concerns about the enforcement measures utilized by immigration agents in Southern California.
Parias, aged 44, is at the center of a criminal case after allegedly ramming his vehicle into federal officers' cars while attempting to evade capture on an immigration warrant. As a Mexican citizen residing illegally in the U.S., he was shot in the elbow during the confrontation and is currently recovering in a local hospital.
The arrest attempt was part of a broader federal operation in South LA, where Parias is well-known for his Spanish-language videos on TikTok, showcasing not only immigration-related content but also everyday neighborhood life, car accidents, and cultural stories from the community. His two accounts boast over 340,000 followers combined, indicating his influence in local discussions around immigration enforcement.
His attorney, Carlos Jurado, expressed concerns regarding access to Parias, stating that neither he nor family members have been permitted to visit. Parias managed to communicate briefly from the hospital, indicating severe limitations on his interactions.
Local community leaders recognize Parias for actively reporting on immigration raids and sharing vital information with residents. We realized Richard was giving a lot of news to a lot of our residents, said Jose Ugarte, chief of staff for Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price.
Parias had previously encountered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while documenting their activities, raising critical questions about the safety and rights of individuals engaging in independent reporting. Advocates argue that grassroots reporting holds significant importance in the community, especially amid increasing concerns regarding aggressive immigration enforcement.
This event marks the second attempt by federal authorities to arrest Parias, leading to ongoing dialogues on the scope of such law enforcement operations and the role of community reporting in safeguarding vulnerable groups.