‘He’s Been Deported’: Migrant Influencer Who Mocked US Taxpayers Gets A One-Way Ticket Home
Leonel Moreno, a Venezuelan man known for flaunting cash and urging migrants to occupy US homes, was deported. He gained attention on TikTok and was detained by ICE.
Leonel Moreno, the Venezuelan man who gained widespread attention on social media for flaunting cash and encouraging migrants to occupy American homes, was deported, US officials confirmed on social media.
Moreno had gathered a lot of followers on social media platforms like TikTok by posting videos in which he waved stacks of hundred-dollar bills and mocked US taxpayers. In his videos, he urged migrants to claim properties under squatters’ rights laws and said he wanted to make profits from selling such properties.
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Update:He has been deported 👋 https://t.co/OrDNB7jN8W
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 28, 2025
The Trump administration announced his deportation on Friday through its @RapidResponse47 account on X, stating simply, “He has been deported", while responding to journalist Colin Rugg’s post.
Moreno, who illegally entered the US in 2022 near Eagle Pass, Texas, was released under the border parole system. In his videos, he claimed to have received $350 per week in government assistance while making up to $1,000 weekly from social media.
He derided American workers, saying, “I didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave," and boasted, “I’m always going to make lots of money without much work."
His online presence drew the attention of immigration authorities, leading to his detention by ICE. Although a federal judge ordered his removal in September, the process was delayed as Venezuela initially refused to accept deportation flights under the Biden administration.
After months in custody, Moreno has now been sent back to Venezuela.
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