Staff Reports
Leonel Moreno, a Venezuelan migrant who gained notoriety for flaunting illegal immigration tactics and U.S. welfare benefits, faced widespread backlash online and was ultimately deported under President Trump’s immigration crackdown. Moreno became infamous for TikTok videos encouraging squatting in vacant homes, bragging about receiving government aid, and claiming he “didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave”. His inflammatory posts included footage of cash stacks, firearms, and assertions that his daughter’s birth was funded by “Papa Biden”.
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– Moreno entered the U.S. illegally in April 2022 and failed to comply with ICE check-ins after release.
– ICE arrested him in Ohio in March 2024, and he was deported in late March 2025 after Venezuela resumed accepting deportation flights.
– Authorities investigated his alleged ties to Venezuelan military intelligence and his role in promoting criminal activity.
The internet erupted with demands for his removal, with critics calling him a symbol of immigration system exploitation. Conservative lawmakers praised the deportation, framing it as a victory for Trump’s “zero-tolerance” approach. Moreno’s case highlighted tensions over welfare misuse, illegal entry, and the administration’s use of heightened enforcement measures against high-profile targets.
While Moreno claimed persecution in both Venezuela and the U.S., his deportation underscored the White House’s focus on removing individuals who publicly defied immigration laws. The episode fueled debates about social media’s role in normalizing illegal behavior and the prioritization of immigration enforcement under Trump.
