Migrant Influencer-Turned-Squatter Ringleader Deported After Advocating Taking Over Americans’ Homes

In a move that is sure to spark conversations, the Trump administration has deported Leonel Moreno, a 26-year-old Venezuelan illegal immigrant who gained notoriety for his brazen online antics. Moreno skyrocketed to fame on social media by flaunting stacks of cash and encouraging fellow migrants to "invade" American homes, citing squatters' rights as their legal loophole.

Moreno, who seemed to enjoy stirring controversy, even proposed turning his squatting tactics into a legitimate business, claiming he could sell the homes for profit. Unsurprisingly, this did not sit well with authorities. "He has been deported," the Trump administration announced on Friday via its @RapidResponse47 X account.

What made Moreno particularly infamous was his unapologetic mockery of U.S. taxpayers. In his videos, he celebrated his ability to rake in money with minimal effort while calling working Americans "slaves." "I didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave," he declared in Spanish, adding, "I came to the U.S. to mark my territory." Honestly, Moreno's audacity should come with a warning label.

Beyond his viral videos, the self-proclaimed squatter bragged about earning up to $1,000 a week through TikTok and receiving $350 weekly in government handouts since entering the country illegally. This, of course, fueled outrage among taxpayers and lawmakers alike.

While TikTok eventually shut down his account, which had amassed nearly half a million followers, Moreno continued making waves on Facebook and Instagram until his eventual arrest in Ohio. ICE apprehended him after his online fame drew the government’s attention, though he spent months in custody during the Biden administration before deportation proceedings could take place.

A federal judge ordered Moreno’s removal in September 2023, but the process was delayed due to Venezuela’s refusal to accept deportation flights under the Biden administration. The Trump administration, however, ensured Moreno was finally sent packing.

Moreno initially entered the U.S. in 2022 through Eagle Pass, Texas, under the border parole system. His journey from illegal immigrant to social media provocateur and finally deportee is as much a cautionary tale as it is a spectacle of brazen entitlement.