Social media went on alert on September 24, when Kevin Ledezma (aka Isaac Hernández) was detained by ICE agents after this TikToker posted videos exposing the violence used against immigrants. One video even caught an agent drinking beer during his supposed work hours.
After more than a month in detention, the young man was deported to Tijuana, where he remains before deciding on his next step.
“These were terrible, very bad stories. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” he shared over the phone. “The detention conditions were extremely harsh: I was isolated, the food was very bad, and we were subjected to psychological torture.”
Ledezma mentions that he experienced so many things that he’s still trying to organize them in his mind.
“I’ll share all of them; many of them you wouldn’t believe,” he adds.
Kevin says his passport and other personal belongings were stolen. On his TikTok account, he has posted interviews with other Mexican immigrants who were deported.
This TikToker became known for his bold video style, fearless in the face of authorities and constantly putting himself at risk. He initially attended demonstrations in Los Angeles, where he lived, and covered the raids on his channel. Afterward, he moved to Chicago. His goal was to continue the work he had been doing in Los Angeles: confront ICE, expose the abuses of its agents, and organize donations to support the immigrant community.
On his TikTok posts, Kevin documented his work and the confrontations he had at immigrant detention centers.
Outspoken and fearless, this 21-year-old never backed down in front of the feared agents, boldly stating he wasn’t afraid. “Come for me, I’m right here,” he can be heard saying shortly before his arrest.
The moment of his arrest was recorded by fellow TikTokers. In the video, he is seen in handcuffs, shouting: “I’m not a criminal, call my lawyer… I’m not a criminal,” walking with dignity between two agents.
His activism has drawn widespread attention on social media, earning him over 100,000 followers. His posts not only expose injustice but also help organize donation drives for families in the U.S. and Mexico. Alongside other influencers, he has helped raise significant donations for hundreds of families, reaching millions of people.
“In this fight, if we stay united, we can win. That’s my motto: ‘Latinos united will never be defeated.’ The problem is that many in the Latino community don’t support us—they attack us instead of helping. There are these MEGA Latinos who infiltrate our marches and report other Latinos. I’m sure ICE watches me—they know who I am. They don’t like the news I share on my socials. But they won’t silence me,” said the young man from Yahualica, Jalisco, in a previous interview with Parriva.
“I asked myself what I would do under all this pressure. Then the raids started. I grabbed my camera and went to one. I went super viral. Witnessing what ICE does outrages me—they don’t respect people’s rights. Overnight, I went viral. People started contacting and following me. From just a few followers, it turned into hundreds, then thousands,” he added.
Kevin believes that this generation of TikTokers is essential to the immigrant rights movement. They take to the streets in defense of their ancestors.
“We’re not the ‘crystal generation,’ we’re the ‘diamond generation’—we live with more passion. Personally, I can’t be a coward right now. I could leave the country—but I won’t. I’ve been tear-gassed, attacked, but I won’t be defeated.”
Kevin, or Isaac, created a group called Las Aguilitas, which engages in ongoing activism to locate ICE detainees and support their families. Members of Las Aguilitas have been posting urgent messages on TikTok in recent days, demanding the release of the young Mexican.
“This fight is personal for me. I don’t do this for fame or money. I do it because it deeply affects me how deplorably migrants are treated. Reporting on it is a duty. When I cover the raids and see the conditions these families live in and how they are treated, it breaks my heart. I have to do something about it,” he says sincerely.
