Latina Influencer Gabriela Bandy Shares Her Horrifying ICE Detention Story—And She’s Not Letting the Misinformation Slide

Gabriela Bandy, a Honduran-born influencer with over 1.2 million followers on TikTok and 717,000 on Instagram is using her platform to raise awareness of the harsh realities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a viral TikTok post on January 29, Bandy shared her first-hand experience when ICE detained her as a child.

Her message was clear: many people misunderstand who ICE is actually targeting.

“We, as immigrants, are not fighting for the criminals who are out there doing horrible things to stay in the country,” Bandy said. “However, I think that you have been misled to believe that when they say we’re deporting criminals, you’re thinking they’re deporting people who are out there like in gangs or killing people or robbing or whatever. But in reality, this government considers anyone who has come into the country illegally as a criminal.”

Bandy’s post quickly gained traction, sparking conversations about immigration policies and ICE’s treatment of undocumented people. Her candid storytelling and personal connection to the issue have made her an essential voice in the ongoing debate.

“I was 11 years old when I was detained by ICE”

During her interview on Mitú Daily, Bandy expanded on her experience of being detained by ICE when she was just a child. She recalled being held with her family after crossing the border and encountering officers who treated them with hostility.

“I sat down with my baby brother on my lap. He was not even a year old. And I heard ICE agents speaking about me,” she said. “One of them yelled at me from afar and called me stupid because I accidentally leaned on a counter next to me that I didn’t realize had the fingerprint ink thing all over it.”

According to Bandy, ICE officers went out of their way to humiliate and intimidate her family. When her sister tried to get water for the two babies in their group, an officer shut her down.

“An ICE agent literally yelled across the room and was like, ‘Hey, that’s not for you. That’s for us,’” she recounted. “We spent all day just waiting with no food, no water, with literally two babies.”

These experiences have shaped how she sees immigration enforcement today. “I have no doubt in my mind that the people that encounter ICE, especially with the current climate of things and the current government, I have no doubt that they’re going to be mistreated and they’re going to be discriminated [against] and they’re going to be treated like shit,” she said.

“People don’t know they’re supporting deportation policies that target families”

One of Bandy’s biggest concerns is the disconnect between public perception and reality when it comes to ICE raids. In her TikTok and interview, she explained that many people who support deporting “criminals” don’t realize that the government categorizes all undocumented immigrants as criminals—even those with no criminal records.

“That is the reason why the government now wants to go to schools to do raids. They want to go to hospitals. They want to go to churches,” she said. “Do you think criminals are at school? Or do you think they’re just looking for anyone who’s coming to this country illegally as a criminal?”

Bandy’s statement aligns with recent reports on ICE’s increased enforcement efforts. According to recent data, 41% of the people ICE arrested in early February had no criminal record. This marks a sharp increase from the 28% of non-criminal ICE arrests under President Joe Biden’s administration.

“I wasn’t aware of my rights when ICE detained me”

When asked if she knew her rights when interacting with ICE, Bandy was direct: “No, definitely not.”

She described feeling powerless as a child in an ICE detention center. “You feel like you have no rights. I mean, you’re literally being yelled at, you’re being told to go over there, you know, they’re intimidating you by their authority and that power play,” she said.

Her story underscores a larger issue: many undocumented immigrants, especially children, do not know their rights when confronted by immigration enforcement. Activists and legal organizations have long pushed for more widespread “Know Your Rights” education to help individuals protect themselves during ICE encounters.

“Sharing our stories is the least we can do”

Despite the weight of her experiences, Bandy is determined to use her platform to spread awareness. She encourages other influencers and public figures to speak up, even if they don’t consider themselves experts on immigration law.

“I will also urge people, especially influencers. I know many of them; they’re scared to say anything. One, because I know some brands might not want to work with you. And two, because they’re like, ‘I don’t know what to say. I don’t feel super educated to talk about the matter.’ But you really don’t have to be,” she said. “As long as you’re just sharing a story and speaking the way that you speak from your heart.”

For Bandy, storytelling isn’t just about raising awareness—it’s about creating change. “Sometimes I think even just, like, for me, like, I’m not a lawyer. I can’t sit here and tell you that I know every law. But I can tell you about my experience. And that alone is already educating you.”

Gabriela Bandy is proving that speaking up matters

Bandy’s TikTok video and Mitú Daily interview show the power of personal narratives in reshaping public opinion. Her firsthand account of ICE’s treatment of immigrants challenges common misconceptions and sheds light on the human cost of these policies.

“We have to talk about it. We have to be loud about it,” she emphasized, highlighting the importance of informing people. “Sometimes, we live in our little bubble, and we think like, ‘Well, people know.’ But no, people do not know.”

In an era when misinformation spreads quickly, voices like Bandy’s serve as a crucial counterbalance. Her courage in speaking out reminds us that immigrant stories deserve to be heard and that change begins with awareness.