Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have reportedly arrested a TikTok influencer who encouraged illegal immigrants to illegally occupy American homes.
Leonel Moreno, who made headlines for telling illegal immigrants to take over properties in the United States, was taken into federal custody Friday after being arrested in Columbus, Ohio by ICE’s Fugitive Operations Team, FOX News’ Bill Melgin said. reported. reportsaid an anonymous ICE official.
BREAKING: ICE officials say Venezuelan illegal alien “TikTok influencer” Leonel Moreno was arrested today by the ICE Fugitive Operations Team in Columbus, Ohio, and is now in federal custody. ICE told FOX Moreno previously entered the country illegally in April 2022 and… pic.twitter.com/agwxvOIzto
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 29, 2024
Moreno illegally crossed the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas, in April 2022 before being enrolled in the New York Post’s Alternative to Detention Program. report. The undocumented immigrants were then classified as “fugitives” because they failed to comply with the program’s rules, which include tracking by federal authorities using ankle monitors and other methods, according to internal ICE documents cited by the newspaper.
He made national headlines in March when he posted a viral TikTok advising other illegal immigrants to abuse their squatter’s rights and steal American homes.
The former fugitive’s TikTok account was deleted on March 21, the report said. (Related: Texas charges 70 more illegal immigrants for allegedly crossing border, National Guard: Report)
NEW: A Venezuelan illegal alien who encouraged other illegal aliens to illegally occupy his home in the United States is wanted by immigration authorities.
Leonel Moreno recently faced a snot-inducing uproar after his TikTok account was suspended.
It was later revealed that Moreno was suspended from TikTok for… pic.twitter.com/yGVzub40ty
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 27, 2024
Under the online handle Leitooficial, Moreno reportedly boasted that he was making hundreds to thousands of dollars. He reportedly said in other videos that he wanted to “mark” his “territory” in the United States, the New York Post reported. I got it..
“I didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave,” Moreno told his followers in the video, waving a wad of $100 bills. “I came to the United States to mark my territory.”
Melgin noted that ICE will release a statement regarding Moreno’s arrest later on Friday.
