ICE arrests viral TikToker who urged illegals to claim squatter's rights: Report

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrested a viral TikToker who attracted notoriety through a video advocating that illegals use squatter's rights to effectively take over American homes, Fox News reported, citing an "ICE official."

Agents with the Detroit field office reportedly arrested Leonel Moreno in Gahanna, Ohio.

 An ICE spokesperson told Just the News on Thursday that "Leonel Moreno is an unlawfully present Venezuelan non-citizen, who illegally entered the country April 23, 2022. Moreno was placed into the ATD [Alternatives to Detention] program by Border Patrol and was told to report to Enforcement and Removal Operations office within 60 days of arriving at his destination. Moreno did not report as required."

Earlier this month, Moreno posted the video on his TikTok, which boasted more than half a million followers, in which he explained the rights of unlawful residents to claim a property in limited circumstances and claimed his friends had "already taken about seven homes." 

"We can invade a house in the U.S.A. What's your opinion of that new law," he also said.

In the wake of the video, the state of Florida quickly approved legislation allowing for property owners to request that law enforcement swiftly remove unlawful occupants.

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

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.