A viral social media figure, who has been identified as an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, is reportedly linked to the country’s military intelligence unit. Leonel Moreno, who urged others to “invade” American homes and claim “squatters rights,” was allegedly a sergeant in Venezuela’s military intelligence before coming to the U.S., according to a federal source cited by the New York Post.
Moreno gained attention after posting videos on TikTok and Instagram, where he flaunted government benefits and waved $100 bills, saying, “I didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave.”
After almost two years in the U.S., Moreno was arrested in March in Columbus, Ohio, for violating the conditions of his release under the Border Patrol’s Alternatives to Detention program. Venezuela has not confirmed any information about Moreno to U.S. authorities, complicating efforts to verify his past.
A Homeland Security source highlighted the challenges in obtaining international cooperation, with one border agent remarking, “I wanted to get into Border Patrol and protect from terrorists. And it’s like, well, I probably let terrorists in the country.”
Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand reported that Moreno has not caused any issues while in jail. “I don’t know of any problems that we’ve had with him. He’s in with the rest of the ICE inmates,” Hildenbrand stated.
In a previous interview with the New York Post, Moreno claimed he was a victim of persecution in both Venezuela and the U.S. “I came here to the United States because of persecution in my country … But they’re doing the same thing to me in the United States – persecuting me,” he said. “It’s all misinformation in the media about me. They’re defaming me. They’re misrepresenting me in the news … I am a good father, a good husband, a good son, a good person, humble, respectful to people who respect me.”
Social media reactions have been overwhelmingly skeptical about the open southern border, with many users expressing concerns about the influx of illegal immigrants under President Biden’s administration. The lack of information about these individuals and their intentions has fueled fears about national security and cultural assimilation.
