Screenshot, TikTok @leitoofficial / TomasEE, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

Leonal Moreno, a Venezuelan migrant with a significant social media following, has called for solidarity in support of a 15-year-old fellow Venezuelan, Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa, who allegedly shot a tourist in Times Square.

In a video addressed to his over 300,000 followers on TikTok, Moreno appealed to them to help pay the fines for Rivas-Figueroa, emphasizing the importance of community support in tough times.

“I invite you to find [his] mother and [for] all of us to unite to pay the fines [so] that the young Venezuelan feels that he’s not alone during difficult moments. Remember that up there there’s a God who sees everything [down here],” Moreno said. “And he will be released, do you know why? Because he’s underage.”

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Moreno, through his TikTok platform, often shares insights into his life, including how he benefits from government funds and the generosity of strangers, rather than engaging in traditional employment. In one of his posts, Moreno brazenly stated his leisurely approach to life in the U.S., contrasting it with the work ethic of others.

“You came to the United States to work, and I came to vacation, look at the difference. You and I didn’t come with the same purpose. You came to the United States to pay the taxes that you didn’t pay in Venezuela.” He also confessed a dislike for work, suggesting it causes him allergies, and remarked on the irony of living off the taxes paid by others.

The actions and statements of Moreno and the case of Rivas-Figueroa have stirred various reactions online, with some criticizing Moreno for his stance on work and support for someone charged with a serious crime.

Daniel Di Martino, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a Venezuelan native, expressed concern over individuals exploiting American laws and welfare systems.

“Americans should be outraged to see how someone can come… and abuse the laws and benefits of America. Sadly, he’s 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,” Di Martino told the New York Post.