The wife of an “immigration influencer” who urged people to “invade” the United States became emotional Saturday as she revealed she was not allowed to see her jailed husband.
Veronica Torres was seen crying outside the Sonesta Simply Suites Columbus Airport, an extended stay hotel in the Columbus suburb of Gahanna, the day after her husband Leonel Moreno was jailed. .
“We don’t know where they took him and we can’t see him,” she told the Post.
“I can’t say more because I don’t know much about it.”
Many hotel guests, half of whom were paying guests, said they had seen Moreno inside the hotel before his arrest last week and had “kept quiet”.
“I’ve been seeing him here for a week,” Chrissy Rowell, 30, told the Post. “He didn’t bother anyone.”
Moreno gained popularity online after posting a video on social media encouraging other immigrants to enter the country and exercise their squatter rights.
In many videos, he can be seen brandishing large amounts of cash and begging for money, claiming to be government benefits.
“I didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave,” Moreno said in an Instagram clip.
“I came to the United States to mark my territory.”
“You’re hurt because you’re working like a slave and I’m earning more than you without having to work as much, do you understand?”
By the time TikTok shut down his account, he had about 500,000 followers.
Moreno was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday and is currently being held at the Geauga County Jail, according to ICE records.
The arrest comes after The Post exclusively reported how Moreno escaped ICE shortly after illegally crossing the Texas border in 2022.
“Mr. Moreno was placed in the Alternative to Detention Program by the Border Patrol and told to report to the Office of Removal Operations within 60 days of arriving at his destination,” an ICE spokesperson told the Post. .
“Mr. Moreno did not report as required. On March 29, 2024, Moreno was arrested in Gahanna, Ohio by personnel from ERO Detroit’s Columbus office and is currently being held in custody pending further immigration proceedings. I am.”
Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand acknowledged that the immigrant is cooling his heels in a Columbus-area jail, saying, “If you need to be moved, an ICE officer will have to come pick you up and take you there.” I’ll take you wherever there is,” he added.
Most courthouses were closed Friday because of the religious holiday, Hildenbrand said. It is unclear when Moreno will appear in court.
