(ProsperNews.net) – Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have captured the Venezuelan immigrant who encouraged migrants to occupy empty American homes and take advantage of squatter laws. Leonel Moreno hit the headlines over his controversial TikTok channel, where he frequently bragged about living off the US taxpayer to half a million followers. ICE agents believed he was hiding out in Columbus, Ohio, and issued a statement in late March saying they had caught up with him in Gahanna, a Columbus suburb.
The federal agents said Moreno entered the US illegally in August 2022 and was placed on the Alternatives to Detention program. This permits immigrants to enter the US under some form of surveillance, such as ankle monitoring. Moreno was ordered to report to Enforcement and Removal Operations within 60 days but failed to do so. ICE officers finally caught up with him on March 29, and he is detained pending immigration proceedings.
Mr. Moreno amassed a significant following online and sparked outrage by posting tips for fellow migrants on how to exploit the American system. He boasted of receiving $350 a week from the taxpayer, begging, and boosting his income through his social media accounts.
TikTok suspended his account after he encouraged migrants to seize American homes, saying it does not permit the promotion of unlawful behavior.
In February, the illegal immigrant came to the defense of fellow Venezuelan Jesus Alejandro Rivas Figueroa after police detained him in New York for shooting at a security officer and a tourist in Times Square. The officer was unhurt, but the tourist suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. Authorities caught up with the teenage illegal immigrant in Yonkers, New York, after a 24-hour manhunt. He was also suspected of involvement in other crimes.
In a subsequent TikTok video, Moreno encouraged Hispanics across the US to help the 15-year-old and his mother settle his legal fees. “Today, it is him; tomorrow, it could be you,” he said.
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