A Venezuelan “immigrant influencer” who entered the United States illegally and encouraged other immigrants to illegally occupy American homes now says he is a victim of persecution and has lost his freedom. from behind bars.
Leonel Moreno (27) said. new york post during a 30-minute televised visit from inside the Geauga County Jail in Chardon, Ohio, earlier this week. He was arrested near Columbus, Ohio, late last month for failing to appear for a required check-in with a police officer.
Moreno complained to the Post that he came to the United States because of “persecution in his homeland,” and it appears he is now receiving the same treatment.
“Everything in the media about me is false information. They are slandering me. They are misrepresenting me in the news,” Moreno said, adding that he is a good father, husband and son. He claimed that there was. “I miss my whole life, I miss my freedom!”
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After Leonel Moreno was arrested and imprisoned in Ohio, he told the Post he missed his freedom. (@Leitooficial_26/Instagram)
Moreno reportedly entered the United States illegally in 2022. Moreno was granted parole at the border in April 2022 as part of the government’s Alternative to Detention Program. The program is supposed to track catch-and-release immigrants when there isn’t enough space to detain them.
Federal documents now reviewed by the newspaper suggest he may also face federal firearms charges.
Leonel Moreno speaks to his followers with a combination of still images taken from videos. (@Leitooficial_26/Instagram)
Moreno went viral last month for an inflammatory TikTok video in which he bragged about not having to work and mocked fellow immigrants who come to the United States for grueling physical labor.
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“I didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave,” he said in Spanish in his video. “I came to the United States to mark my territory.”
His TikTok account, which had more than 500,000 followers, was banned last week, but his Instagram account, which had just under 19,000 followers, was still active as of Sunday.
Venezuelan TikToker Leonel Moreno appealed to illegal immigrants to take over abandoned homes and enforce squatter rights. (TikTok/Screenshot/Leonel Moreno)
In one post, he admitted that his TikTok account had been shut down, but vowed to continue making money from Facebook and Instagram.
He previously told the audience that he planned to make a business by “invading” vacant properties, occupying them using squatter’s rights laws, and selling them for a profit.
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In an interview with the Post, Moreno insisted that the people appearing in his social media posts are just “characters” and should not be confused with his normal self.
“I have a sarcastic, dark humor. That’s my job,” he said. “Leonel Moreno is the opposite.”
Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price, Mike Ruiz and Christina Coulter contributed to this report.
