TikToker Who Called for Illegal Immigrants to Claim Squatter's Rights Is Arrested

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have apprehended Leonel Moreno, a viral TikTok personality known for advocating the use of squatter's rights by undocumented immigrants to claim American homes, Fox News reported, citing an ICE official.

Moreno was reportedly arrested by agents from the Detroit field office in Gahanna, Ohio. According to an ICE spokesperson, Moreno is an unlawfully present Venezuelan non-citizen who illegally entered the country on April 23, 2022.

Breaking: ICE arrests viral TikToker who urged illegals to claim squatter's rights: Report https://t.co/FlO6oqRBg6

— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) March 29, 2024

Despite being placed in the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program by Border Patrol, Moreno failed to report to the Enforcement and Removal Operations office within the required 60 days of arriving at his destination.

"Moreno's original TikTok account, @leitooficial_25, has been suspended and an error message appears when trying to access the profile," NBC 15 reported.

In a TikTok video posted earlier this month, Moreno explained the rights of undocumented residents to claim property under specific circumstances, boasting that his friends had already taken about seven homes.

He provocatively questioned viewers about their opinion on the "new law" allowing such actions.

In response to Moreno's video, the state of Florida swiftly enacted legislation enabling property owners to request law enforcement to promptly remove unlawful occupants.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis emphasized the importance of protecting property owners and cracking down on individuals seeking to exploit the system.

"We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida," stated DeSantis. "While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system."

The arrest of Moreno underscores ongoing debates surrounding immigration policies and property rights in the United States.

It also highlights the role of social media platforms like TikTok in disseminating controversial messages and shaping public discourse on contentious issues.