LOS ANGELES -- Carlitos Ricardo Parias had been tracking ICE raids around South L.A. and posting videos on TikTok for months, gaining hundreds of thousands of followers who looked to his social media accounts for vital updates on where federal immigration agents were.

As masked federal agents detained people in Los Angeles streets, Parias was often there streaming and recording. Known by several people as “Richard,” “El Señor Richard,” or the“Tiktokquero,” Parias became such a reliable source for news and information for residents that the city gave him official recognition in August for “keeping the South LA community informed empowered and protected.” ×

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