A “Migrant Influencer” who went viral for encouraging others to cross the U.S.-Mexican border is potentially facing a federal firearms charge.
Leonel Moreno, a Venezuelan migrant, reportedly arrived in the U.S. illegally in 2022. The 27-year-old recently took over TikTok with his short clips, in which he shared advice on “squatting” in American homes and boasting about the amount his family receives in social security benefits.
His controversial presence on social media comes as the immigration debate grows ever more intense ahead of the November presidential election when it is likely to be a major issue between Democrat Joe Biden and Donald Trump and his Republican supporters.
Following Moreno’s arrest by federal immigration authorities on Friday, here is everything we know about the unlikely TikTok star.
Who is Leonel Moreno?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) documents showed that Moreno illegally crossed the border at Eagles Pass, Texas, in April 2022.
Border Patrol entered the Venezuelan native into the Alternatives to Detention program, which allows ICE to track migrants using ankle monitors and similar technology.
Moreno appeared to settle in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Veronica Torres and infant daughter. However, ICE labelled him an “absconder” after he failed to report back within 60 days of his arrival.
TikTok Fame
Following his entrance into the U.S., Moreno went viral on the video-sharing platform TikTok for videos encouraging his “fellow Venezuelans” to live off the U.S. state.
Snippets showed Moreno bragging about food he’d purchased with food stamps, along with boasting about the $350 a week he claimed to receive in social security benefits.
“I’ve concluded that the American Dream is real,” he said in one video. “This is food of the best quality that they just give you.”
In another clip, Moreno claimed to make $1,000 per day as a panhandler—posing with a stack of cash—while other videos show him mocking migrants who choose to work as as cleaners, landscapers or in construction jobs.
“I didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave,” Moreno declared. “I came to the U.S. to mark my territory.”
Leonel Moreno’s TikTok Account is Taken Down
At the height of his viral success, Moreno had 500,000 TikTok followers.
However, his account was removed as of Wednesday. His Instagram account is still active at the time of publishing, and Moreno has almost 19,000 followers on the platform.
In one video, Moreno said he was making up to $1,000 a week on TikTok. He addressed his account’s removal in a video, explaining that he plans to continue generating income through his other social media pages.
“Yes, they closed my TikTok account, but I keep earning on Facebook and on Instagram,” he said. “I won’t earn the same, but I am going to get my TikTok account back. I am going to keep earning money.”
Leonel Moreno Creates New TikTok Account
Moreno appeared to open a new TikTok account on Tuesday, in which he told viewers “I’m being persecuted.”
‘My people, I need you to pay attention to what’s happening because my family is on danger,” Moreno said in one clip. “They erased my TikTok accounts. I have received threats from powerful people. Help!”
Leonel Moreno is Arrested by ICE on March 29
Moreno was arrested by ICE in Gahanna, Ohio, on Friday. Federal authorities were reportedly unaware of Moreno’s whereabouts until he went viral.
On Wednesday, internal federal documents seen by The New York Post indicated that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) had reached out to ICE regarding Moreno, with charges likely to be brought under the Gun Control Act.
The act prohibits people on parole from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving firearms or ammunition.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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