Mexican journalist Carlitos Ricardo Parias shot by US immigration authorities, without medical care after 300 days in detention

Miami, August 18, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities to ensure that Mexican journalist and TikTok streamer Carlitos Ricardo Parias receives adequate medical care after spending 300 days in immigration detention at California’s Adelanto Detention Facility.

Parias, 45, who reports independently under TikTok handle Richard Noticias LA, was shot in the left arm by federal agents during an immigration enforcement arrest in Los Angeles in October 2025. After initially receiving treatment at a local hospital, his attorneys told outlets that he has been denied adequate medical treatment, including pain medication and physical therapy, while in detention. They are seeking his release as his immigration case proceeds.

“Each moment more journalist Carlitos Ricardo Parias spends in detention jeopardizes his health. U.S. immigration authorities must ensure that Parias receives the medical care he needs after he was injured at their hands,” said CPJ Americas Regional Director José Zamora. “Journalists, regardless of their immigration status, must not be denied basic medical treatment.”

Parias built a large TikTok following covering crime and immigration issues in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods in Los Angeles. He has continued to report from detention via video clips recorded by his visitors, documenting alleged unsanitary conditions at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in Adelanto, California. In 2025, the Los Angeles City Council honored his community reporting with a proclamation.

CPJ’s email requesting an update on Parias’ care to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities did not receive an immediate reply.