Fugitive operations officers captured Leonel Moreno in Columbus, Ohio, on a recent Friday, and he is currently held at the Geauga County Jail, according to ICE records. As reported by The New York Post, Moreno was arrested after the outlet exposed his evasion of ICE following his illegal entry into Texas from the southern border in 2022, making him a prime target for authorities.
During his time in the United States, Moreno actively used his social media platforms to encourage fellow migrants to enter the country unlawfully and take over the residences of American citizens. Through various videos, he proudly displayed large sums of money, alleging that it was obtained through government assistance. One of his most widely viewed videos featured him waving a social security card while boasting about the income he made from begging. In a specific Instagram video, Moreno boldly declared, “I didn’t risk crossing the Rio Grande to toil away. I came to the US to make my mark.”
Leonel Moreno, the TikTok influencer who encouraged illegals to squat in houses and take advantage of squatters rights laws has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/TnlCPU91SW
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 29, 2024
In a previous post, he compared his effortless income to the hard work of others. He confidently stated, “You’re upset because I earn more than you with minimal effort while you work tirelessly. That’s what sets us apart. I’ll always earn substantially with little effort, and you’ll remain overworked, unhappy, and insignificant.” TikTok has permanently suspended Moreno’s account, which had amassed around 500,000 followers. However, his Instagram account, with over 17,000 followers, remained active as of last Friday. Reflecting on his TikTok suspension, Moreno expressed, “Yes, they shut down my TikTok, but I continue to profit through Facebook and Instagram. It might not be the same, but I’ll reclaim my TikTok and keep earning.”
Influencer Oneya Johnson, widely recognized as ‘Angry Reactions,’ has been taken into custody for alleged domestic violence.
After Moreno arrived in the United States, he was enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program and placed under monitoring with a tracking device. Unfortunately, he chose to disregard the program’s requirements and did not attend a scheduled check-in with authorities. Internal ICE documents, obtained by The Post, also disclosed that ICE officials were well aware of Moreno’s notable impact, particularly his involvement in promoting illegal immigration on TikTok, which had garnered widespread media coverage.