An illegal immigrant who advised followers to squat in people’s houses and was seen showing large amounts of cash has been arrested by federal law enforcement authorities. The capture comes after being on the run despite running a high-profile social media account.
Leonel Moreno was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this week in Columbus, Ohio. The influencer entered the country illegally in 2022 and escaped an ICE program that allowed him to stay in the country.
Moreno entered the country at the controversial Eagle Pass, Texas crossing that has been the flashpoint of an ongoing battle between the state government and the Biden administration.
Moreno was allowed to stay in the country under the Alternatives to Detention program, which allows some illegal immigrants to stay while being tracked by ICE. Instead, Moreno left the program and became a fugitive, being listed as an “absconder” by ICE.
BREAKING: ICE official tells me Venezuelan illegal alien “TikTok influencer” Leonel Moreno was arrested by ICE’s Fugitive Ops team in Columbus, Ohio today, and he is now in federal custody. ICE tells FOX Moreno previously crossed illegally into the U.S. in April 2022, and was… pic.twitter.com/agwxvOIzto
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 29, 2024
“Leonel Moreno is an unlawfully present citizen of Venezuela, who illegally entered the country April 23, 2022,” said an ICE spokesperson.
“Moreno was placed into the Alternatives To Detention program by Border Patrol and was told to report to Enforcement and Removal Operations office within 60 days of arriving at his destination,” said the statement.
The social media influencer has gained considerable attention in recent months for posting statements calling for illegal aliens to enter the country and squat in private homes.
Moreno was caught on camera flaunting large amounts of money, stating that it came to him from government programs.
“I didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave,” he said. “I came to the US to mark my territory.
“You’re hurt because I make more than you without much work while you work like slaves, understand?” Moreno said.
“That’s the difference between you and me. I’m always going to make lots of money without much work, and you’re always going to be exploited and miserable and insignificant,” he added.
Moreno had almost 500,000 TikTok followers on an account that has since been deleted.
