In a recent development, Venezuelan migrant Leonal Moreno, who boasts a following of over 300,000 on social media, has made a public appeal for his followers to rally together and pay the fines of a 15-year-old migrant accused of shooting a tourist in Times Square earlier this month.
Moreno, a popular figure on TikTok, implored his followers to locate the mother of the accused and unite in supporting the young Venezuelan during these challenging times. "Remember that up there theres a God who sees everything [down here]," Moreno said in his video message.
He further added, "An entire nation [is] on top of him instead of helping him - remember that the young man is going to be released. And he will be released, do you know why? Because hes underage."
Moreno's video, which has since garnered 2.5 million views, was a plea for unity and support for the accused, Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa. The teenager is currently facing attempted murder charges and is being tried as an adult for his actions on February 8.
The video's comments section was a mixed bag of reactions, with some users criticizing Moreno's stance, while others expressed their belief that the accused should face the consequences of his actions.
Moreno, who is known for his content centered around his lifestyle and income derived from begging and government aid, has been vocal about his reasons for migrating to the United States. In a video posted on February 21, he stated, "You came to the United States to work, and I came to vacation, look at the difference. You and I didnt come with the same purpose. You came to the United States to pay the taxes that you didnt pay in Venezuela."
In another video, Moreno admitted his aversion to work, stating, "I confess that I dont like to work because it gives me allergies. You work, I dont, but in the end, neither of us have money. They keep criticizing us because I live off of taxes that you pay monthly."
According to The New York Post, Moreno currently resides in Columbus, Ohio with his partner and their daughter. His lifestyle and views have sparked outrage among some, including Manhattan Institute fellow and Venezuelan native, Daniel Di Martino. Speaking to The New York Post, Di Martino said, "Americans should be outraged to see how someone can come and abuse the laws and benefits of America. Sadly, hes just one of many who are ripping off the taxpayer because of our own badly written laws that allow them to collect some welfare and take years to decide asylum cases that likely will be denied."
As the migrant crisis continues to escalate across the country, the violent actions of individuals like Rivas-Figueroa and Jose Antonio Ibarra raise pressing questions about the state of immigration and the Biden administrations willingness to address the ongoing crisis.
President Biden recently commented on the issue, stating, "Congress has had a long, proud history a bipartisan history on immigration reform and abiding by our international treaty obligations, which we signed related to immigration. These reforms made America a nation of laws, a nation of immigrants and the strongest economy in the world. But something changed. Over time, our laws and our resources haven't kept up with our immigration system, and it's broken. And our politics has failed to fix it."
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