LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a criminal case against Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a prominent TikTok streamer in Los Angeles, due to violations of his constitutional rights while detained by immigration authorities. U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin ruled on Saturday that Parias was denied access to his attorneys while in immigration detention, which hindered his ability to prepare for his trial.
Parias, who has gained a substantial following for showcasing police and immigration enforcement activities on social media, faced charges including assaulting a federal officer and destruction of government property. The charges stemmed from an incident where Parias allegedly rammed his vehicle into an immigration enforcement vehicle in October, resulting in him being shot in the elbow.
The dismissal of the indictment, marked 'with prejudice,' ensures that the government cannot refile the same charges against Parias. Judge Olguin stated, The government’s failure to coordinate the overlapping actions of its separate agencies while relentlessly pursuing Mr. Parias’s criminal proceedings created a situation from which constitutional violations could — and did — occur.
The United States Attorney’s office expressed its disagreement with the ruling, stating they are considering options for appeal. This case has raised significant concerns regarding the treatment of individuals within the immigration detention system, spotlighting broader issues about the rights of detainees and the responsibilities of federal enforcement agencies.
Parias is a well-known figure in South Los Angeles, using his platform to document various events, including protests against immigration enforcement. With a combined following of over 340,000 on TikTok, his videos provide real-time information to the community about police actions and immigration raids.
While he was initially hospitalized after his shooting during the October incident, as of now, he remains in an immigration detention facility awaiting potential deportation.
