Does a video show a real scuffle in front of a Grand Central Market between a Cherokee woman and an ICE Agent? No, that's not true: This video is AI-generated and was recaptioned for additional ragebaiting effect. It is one of a series of AI-generated videos made with the same, or nearly identical prompts that show a similar clash in front of a "Grand Central Market". The original account posting these AI-generated videos did not suggest this woman was Cherokee -- the fake videos in their original context appear to represent South or Central American women, sometimes speaking Spanish and wearing traditional clothing.
The fake video was reposted on X (archived here) by @ultras_antifaa on Jan. 19, 2026. The post was captioned:
A brave woman gives the ICE agent who tried to arrest her the response he deserved.
The same video was posted as a reel (archived here) on Instagram by @ivanbabu6 on Jan. 19, 2026 and was captioned:
"Take this so you stay serious and don't make a mistake, I am a Native American Cherokee."
Photos of a young woman of Cherokee descent--belonging to one of America's ancient indigenous tribes--are going viral. The images show her evading arrest by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents--the same immigration service that Donald Trump frequently praises.
Below is a screenshot from the Instagram reel:
(Image Source: Lead Stories screenshot from instagram.com/reels/DTtrRBdkqDQ.)
The words quoted in the caption, where the woman identifies herself as Native American Cherokee, are not part of the audio in the video. Identifying the woman who is being detained by an ICE agent as Native American Cherokee is an added ragebaiting tactic for views and shares.
The video contains obvious glitches that reveal it is AI-generated (pictured below). The patch on her left arm has indecipherable lettering, and the strap of her shoulder bag switches from her right to left shoulder, and from the inside to the outside of her jacket when she turns around.
(Image Source: Lead Stories composite image with screenshots from instagram.com/reels/DTCTjB5AIlP.)
The video was originally posted (archived here) on Instagram on Jan. 3, 2026 by @mikewaynedotcom without any caption. The account does not feature any disclaimer about AI-generated content, but the thumbnails of the videos show repeated themes. These AI-generated variations of ragebait themes are frequently posted consecutively. One example theme shows black pastors confronting ICE agents on church steps shouting, "Not today, and not in this church!" In another series, female fruit vendors say, "Don't touch me, I'm American you racist!".
The series of videos of the fictional confrontation at "Grand Central Market" (examples pictured below) feature AI-generated signage of a market in the opening scene. Since 1917 there has been a real Los Angeles market (archived here) by this name -- the videos appear to be referencing this Los Angeles landmark. The prompt appears to have asked for the woman in each of the videos to be brown-skinned, with long black hair, and for the ICE agent to be a white man in tactical gear. In most, the woman wears her shoulder bag across her body, and may be wearing South or Central American traditional styles of clothing. In most of the videos she yells a mixture of English and Spanish phrases.
(Image Source: Lead Stories composite image with screenshots from instagram.com/mikewaynedotcom.)
