In a remarkable turn of events, three Mexican nationals who were deported from the United States have become social media sensations, leveraging TikTok to rebuild their lives and share inspiring stories. Annie Garcia, Francisco Hernández-Corona, and Olga Mijangos have found fame and financial stability by turning their personal hardships into viral content that resonates with thousands of followers globally.
Annie Garcia: From Hardships to Hope
Annie Garcia, 35, was deported from the U.S. in 2017 with only $40 to her name and a criminal record from her turbulent younger years. Now based in Puerto Vallarta, she captivates more than 574,000 TikTok followers under hashtags like #LifeAfterDeportation. Her content combines lifestyle snippets, including stunning boat rides on the Pacific, with raw, unfiltered accounts of her struggles, including separation from her five children and rebuilding her life from scratch.
Garcia’s journey serves as a beacon of resilience. She is currently pursuing a law degree in Mexico and shares with followers how deportation gave her a second chance: “Your criminal record doesn’t follow you here… You can pursue higher education. Any debts you had in the U.S. do not follow you here.” Despite her optimism, she doesn’t shy away from discussing the lasting trauma of deportation and her difficult childhood: “I grew up with juveniles with behavior problems. Being taken away from my family at 12 shaped my life.”
Francisco Hernández-Corona: Self-Deporting to Find Peace
Harvard graduate and clinical psychologist Francisco Hernández-Corona moved back to Mexico in 2025 after choosing self-deportation. His journey, documented on his TikTok account @ciscoinmx, has garnered 31,400 followers who tune in for his thoughtful reflections on identity, resilience, and life after returning to his birthplace.
Hernández-Corona, who was brought to the U.S. as a child and temporarily protected under DACA, ultimately decided to leave due to fears of detention during Donald Trump’s heightened deportation efforts. In one of his viral video series, which amassed 2.5 million views, he candidly discusses the emotional cost of self-deportation: “Sometimes it’s pain and nostalgia and anger. You miss the home that was.” With his husband by his side, he continues to inspire others while exploring his roots and embracing his journey of resilience.
Olga Mijangos: Adapting to a New Life
Deported on Christmas Eve 2024, Olga Mijangos returned to her birthplace in a small town in Oaxaca. She began documenting her life through TikTok, offering an unfiltered glimpse into rural living—cattle-filled streets, cucumber harvesting, and traditional meals. Rapidly amassing over 80,000 followers, her authenticity brought viral success, with one video about enrolling her U.S.-born son in a Mexican school racking up 14 million views.
Mijangos now resides in Puerto Vallarta with two of her children and collaborates with fellow creators Garcia and Hernández-Corona. Her content doesn’t shy away from addressing the cultural judgment she faced: “Even though these are my roots, I came from a different world. I could feel people talking about me.” Her rise as a deported influencer underscores the power of authenticity and resilience in the face of life-changing adversity.
Building a Community and a Future
The trio’s collaboration highlights the growing community of deportees-turned-influencers in Mexico. By sharing their unvarnished experiences, they hope to inspire others while actively contributing to important conversations about reintegration and personal growth.
In a world where social media provides a platform for anyone, these influencers are proving that even in the face of loss, it’s possible to reclaim your narrative and thrive.
