The Venezuelan influencer and
criminal Leonel Moreno, known on social media as "
Leito Oficial", was deported from
the United States to Venezuela as part of a group of
178 illegal immigrants who were transported on a Conviasa flight on the night of Thursday, March 27, according to the local media outlet AlbertoNews.
This 27-year-old content creator gained notoriety on TikTok for encouraging the
illegal occupation of houses in U.S. territory. Moreno entered the U.S.
irregularly on April 23, 2022, through Eagle Pass, Texas.
Upon arriving on U.S. soil, Moreno was accepted into the "
Alternatives to Detention" (ATD) program, a mechanism that allows certain illegal immigrants to remain under supervised freedom instead of being detained.
However, he violated the program's conditions by failing to report to the offices of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the 60-day deadline, which led to him being classified as a
fugitive. Finally, in 2024, he was arrested by ICE's fugitive operations team in the city of Gahanna, Ohio.
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Moreno had managed to gather more than
500,000 followers on TikTok, a platform from which he disseminated content
promoting the usurpation of homes, arguing that he knew laws that
benefited those who occupied them. In one of his most viral videos, he stated: "
I found out there's a law that says if a house isn't inhabited, we can take it over".
In other posts, he showed large amounts of cash, claimed that his income came from his work as an influencer, and boasted about receiving
welfare from the U.S. government.
His discourse also included mockery toward those who had other jobs. In one video, he declared: "
It hurts you because I earn more than you while you work like a slave", and added: "
I'm always going to make a lot of money without much work, and you're always going to be exploited, miserable, and insignificant".
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A "hero" of the regime
The dictatorship of
Nicolás Maduro organized an official reception for the deportees, including "
Leito", with a strong state display. Despite the
criminal records of the deportees, the dictatorship received them as if they were
victims or
symbols of resistance.
The welcome event was led by
Diosdado Cabello, Minister of the Interior and the number two of Chavismo, who also faces
drug trafficking accusations in the United States.
In statements broadcast by the state channel VTV, Cabello stated: "
This flight brings 178 of the compatriots who have been in the United States, first, persecuted, who have been in the United States stigmatized". Next to him was
Anahí Arizmendi, leader of the "
Vuelta a la Patria" mission.
Although the deportees had
records for fraud,
evasion, or links with
criminal organizations, the Venezuelan regime decided to project a false heroic image of those returning to the country.
