Veronica Torres, the wife of “migrant influencer” Leonel Moreno, was visibly distressed outside the Sonesta Simply Suites Columbus Airport hotel in Gahanna, Ohio, following her husband’s incarceration. Moreno gained notoriety for his social media posts urging migrants to “invade” the U.S. and take advantage of squatter’s rights, often showcasing significant sums of money he claimed were from government assistance and soliciting donations.
Leonel Moreno’s content, which included statements such as “I didn’t cross the Rio Grande to work like a slave” and boasting about earning more than working Americans without exerting much effort, led to his following growing to around 500,000 on TikTok before his account was shut down. His arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) came after he had been previously instructed to report to the Enforcement and Removal Operations office within 60 days of his arrival in the U.S. in 2022, a condition he failed to meet.
Moreno is now being held at Geauga County Jail as per ICE records, awaiting further immigration proceedings. The details of his court appearance remain uncertain due to the timing of his arrest around the religious holiday period when most courts were closed. Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand confirmed Moreno’s detention, noting that ICE agents would handle his transfer if needed for legal proceedings. The situation has left Veronica Torres in a state of uncertainty, unable to visit her husband and seeking more information about his legal status and future.