Left: Donald Trump addresses the Road to Majority conference in Washington, DC, June 2024 (Allison Bailey/NurPhoto via AP). Right: Ramon Morales Reyes (Department of Homeland Security).
In Wisconsin, a man faces accusations of sending a handwritten threat to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office, indicating plans to “shoot your precious president in his head” in retaliation for the alleged deportation of his family by the Trump administration. However, his legal team and reports suggest this was a fabricated plot to get him deported.
Sources knowledgeable about the investigation told CNN and the Associated Press that federal authorities suspect Ramon Morales Reyes did not compose the threatening letter attributed to him by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. This letter resulted in his recent arrest and public exposure.
According to Morales Reyes’ attorneys and immigrant advocates, the Mexico native can’t even write in Spanish — “let alone” English — and he’s actually the victim in a criminal case that prompted the setup.
“A family member called one of our organizers letting us know this was impossible, as her father had very little formal education, and could not read or write,” said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera at a Friday press conference, where she and Morales Reyes’ legal team demanded a response from Homeland Security, according to local ABC affiliate WISN.
“We’re asking for a clarification and a correction from DHS to clear Ramon’s name of anything having to do with this,” said attorney Kime Abduli, who is representing Morales Reyes.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
Federal officials believe the Mexican father of two was framed in a scheme to get him deported to prevent him from testifying in an assault case, the AP reports.
“He’s actually suffered more than the average person,” said attorney Cain Oulahan, who is also representing Morales Reyes. “To be pulled into the limelight like this, to have a false accusation, the harm he’s suffered,” Oulahan said.
ICE arrested Reyes on May 22 and booked him at the Dodge County Jail in Juneau, Wisconsin, pending removal proceedings as he was “in the U.S. illegally,” according to a DHS press release, which included a screenshot of the letter Morales Reyes is accused of sending.
More from Law&Crime: ‘Shoot your precious president’: Trump death-threat suspect penned handwritten letter saying he’d use his ’30 yard 6′ to kill POTUS for deporting his family, feds say
“You have been deporting my family and I think it is time Donald J. Trump get what he has coming to him,” the one-page letter says
“We are tired of this President messing with us Mexicans,” it adds. “We have done more for this country than you white people.”
The letter was received on May 21 by an ICE field intelligence officer, according to the DHS release. It said that Morales Reyes would “self deport” back to Mexico.
“But not before I use my 30 yard 6 [SIC] to shoot your precious president in is head [SIC],” the letter concluded, making a reference to a .30-06 rifle. “I will see him at one of his big ralleys.”
Speaking under the condition of anonymity, federal law enforcement sources told both CNN and the AP that authorities were able to confirm Morales Reyes didn’t write the letter through a handwriting sample he provided. They said his handwriting did not match and that the letter was not a credible threat, but Homeland Security allegedly chose to accuse him anyway for unknown reasons.
According to CNN, a source familiar with the situation said law enforcement officials reviewed jail calls that were allegedly made by a suspect they believe is responsible for framing Morales Reyes, and that the suspect was asking about addresses during them, including one for the ICE office that allegedly received the letter
The letter that Ramon Morales Reyes allegedly sent to ICE about assassinating President Donald Trump (Homeland Security).
The Milwaukee Police Department has confirmed to CNN, the AP and WISN that it is investigating an “identity theft and victim intimidation incident” that is reportedly “related” to the Morales Reyes case. The county district attorney’s office has said that it is probing the allegations as well, as is DHS.
“The investigation into the threat is ongoing,” a senior Homeland Security official told CNN. “Over the course of the investigation, this individual was determined to be in the country illegally and that he had a criminal record. He will remain in custody.”
Morales Reyes reportedly works as a dishwasher in Milwaukee and lives there with his wife and three children. He recently applied for a U visa, which is issued to people who become victims of serious crimes, according to his lawyers.
“I think he deserves more than due process to see if he can stay,” Oulahan said Friday. “I think he deserves to have his name cleared.”
