The Trump administration announced the deportation of an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Leonel Moreno, who gained a massive online following by flaunting stacks of cash and advising migrants to take over American homes under squatters’ rights laws. Moreno boasted about earning money through TikTok and government handouts, while mocking U.S. taxpayers and other immigrants who work for a living. He was eventually arrested in Ohio and spent months in custody under the Biden administration before being removed from the country.
Moreno’s online presence attracted around 500,000 followers on TikTok before his account was shut down. Despite this, he continued to post videos on Facebook and Instagram until his arrest. The Federal judge ordered his removal in September, but the Venezuelan government initially refused to accept deportation flights during the Biden administration. Moreno had entered the U.S. illegally near Eagle Pass, Texas in 2022 and was released into the country under the border parole system.
In his videos, Moreno belittled U.S. taxpayers, claiming he did not come to the U.S. to work but to “mark his territory.” He bragged about the money he made without much effort, contrasting himself with those he accused of being exploited and miserable. While in custody awaiting deportation, he was kept under the Biden administration’s watch, which saw him finally being deported back to Venezuela. Moreno’s videos and behavior garnered criticism and backlash online, leading to his eventual removal from the United States.
The Trump administration @RapidResponse47 X account announced Moreno’s deportation in response to his controversial videos. His arrest in Ohio and subsequent removal from the U.S. drew attention to the issue of illegal immigrants squatting in the country and exploiting taxpayer benefits. Moreno’s case also raised concerns about the effectiveness of deportation policies under different administrations and the challenges of enforcing laws against individuals who refuse to cooperate with removal efforts.
The proposed bill in Congress to combat illegal immigrants squatting would make this practice a deportable offense. Moreno’s case is an example highlighting the issue of illegal immigrants taking advantage of U.S. taxpayer-funded entitlements and using social media to promote questionable activities. His deportation signifies the government’s efforts to address such cases and enforce immigration laws, especially in situations where individuals openly flout the rules and show no willingness to comply with legal proceedings. The incident involving Moreno sheds light on the complexities and challenges associated with illegal immigration and the measures taken by authorities to address such issues.
