File this under “He had it coming, and then some.” Venezuelan Illegal immigrant, illegal squatting advocate, welfare cheat, and fugitive Leonel Moreno was arrested in Columbus, Ohio, and is in the custody of U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE).
Fugitive Venezuelan migrant Leonel Moreno has finally been arrested by ICE after almost two years on the run.
The 27-year-old was picked up in Columbus, Ohio and is now in federal custody, Fox’s Bill Melugin reports.
Moreno has been hunted by ICE since he crossed the border illegally at Eagle Pass, Texas in April 2022.
He was released as part of the Alternatives to Detention Program, which lets migrants on parole go free while officials track them until their next court date.
Moreno was due in court in Miami in November 2022, but he never showed up.
On the “not showing up in court” part of this entire debacle, Moreno at least has lots of company, as very few illegal immigrants released into the country “with a court date” ever show up in court. Moreno’s case, though, may be high profile enough to be an exception.
Previously on RedState: ‘Migrant Influencer,’ Squatter Advocate, Now on Run From Immigration Officials
Update: Freeloading Illegal Alien Continues to Taunt U.S. Taxpayers
In a near-textbook example of biting the hand that literally fed him, Moreno openly mocked not only other illegal immigrants but also American citizens, bragging about drawing welfare benefits while raking in cash on his social media accounts. Then, when at least one account was shut down, Moreno went full emo-teenager on a remaining account:
The fugitive hit headlines recently after sharing tips on how to invade vacant homes and live off the US government on his TikTok account @leitooficial_25, where he had over half a million followers before the account was suspended.
The videos appear to have led ICE to his whereabouts, as he had previously proved difficult to track.
On Tuesday, he posted a series of bizarre videos of him sobbing from a new account claiming to be the victim of persecution.
‘I am in danger of death in the US! I need protection! I am being persecuted! My account has been blocked!’ he said as liquid dropped from his nose.
There has to be a limit, and Moreno has met that limit.
It will be interesting, however, to see what happens next. Now that ICE has its hands on this guy and he is rightly ensconced in a crowbar hotel, the proper move would be a one-way ticket back to Venezuela. Moreno should be put on that plane by U.S. Marshals, who should make damn sure he’s still on it when it takes off — and Moreno should be informed that a prison sentence awaits him should he try to return to the United States illegally.
Of course, in a just world, that is what would happen to anyone who has been determined to be in the United States illegally. We see now what it took to have ICE track down one guy who was not only broadcasting his presence but openly taunting the American immigration authorities; it doesn’t bode well for dealing with the millions of other illegal immigrants already in the country.
As for Mr. Moreno, assuming he gets the deportation he richly deserves, we can only say “good riddance,” and we hope that the screen door doesn’t hit him on his way out.
