Fugitive operations officers apprehended Leonel Moreno in Columbus, Ohio, on a recent Friday, and he is now detained at the Geauga County Jail, ICE records reveal. According to The New York Post, the arrest occurred after the outlet detailed Moreno’s evasion of ICE shortly after illegally crossing into Texas from the southern border in 2022, making him a target for authorities.
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While he was in the United States, Moreno utilized his social media accounts to urge other migrants to enter the country illegally and occupy the homes of American citizens. He could be seen in various videos flaunting money and claiming it came from government benefits. One of his most popular videos showed him waving a social security card and bragging about his earnings from begging. Moreno stated in a particular Instagram video, “I didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work hard. I came to the US to establish my presence.”
In a previous post, he compared his effortless income to the hard work of others. He stated, “You’re upset because I earn more than you with minimal effort while you work tirelessly. That’s what differentiates us. I’ll always earn substantially with little effort, and you’ll remain overworked, unhappy, and insignificant.” TikTok has permanently suspended Moreno’s account, which amassed around 500,000 followers, although his Instagram account, with over 17,000 followers, remained active as of last Friday. In response to his TikTok suspension, Moreno remarked, “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.”
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After entering the United States, Moreno was enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program and was monitored through a tracking device. However, he stopped complying with the program and failed to show up for a planned check-in with the authorities, as per internal ICE documents obtained by The Post. These documents also revealed that ICE officials were aware of Moreno’s significant influence, especially for his role in promoting illegal immigration on TikTok, which had gained national media attention.