US homeland security secretary Kristi Noem 's claim that an undocumented immigrant had threatened to assassinate US President Donald Trump is now under scrutiny, as new evidence suggests the man may have been falsely accused to force his deportation.
Noem had announced the arrest of 54-year-old Ramon Morales Reyes , alleging he had sent a letter vowing to shoot Trump and then flee to Mexico. The letter, shared by Noem and later highlighted by the White House and Trump allies on social media, was written in light blue ink and appeared to express fury over immigration policies.
However, a person familiar with the investigation told the AP that authorities now believe Morales Reyes did not write the letter. Instead, law enforcement suspected that he was framed, possibly to prevent him from testifying in an upcoming trial in which he is listed as a victim of assault. The source said that the handwritten threat did not match Morales Reyes' writing style after which officials concluded that the threat was not credible.
Despite this, the department of homeland security issued a statement naming Morales Reyes as the author and describing him as a threat, a move that has drawn criticism and confusion. The department has since said the investigation remains “ongoing,” and that Reyes is in the country illegally and has a criminal record.
His legal team disputed those claims, saying he is not currently facing any charges and has no knowledge of past convictions.
“There is really no way that it could be even remotely true,” said Kime Abduli, Morales Reyes’ immigration lawyer. “We're asking for a clarification and a correction from DHS to clear Ramon’s name of anything having to do with this.”
Morales Reyes, a dishwasher in Milwaukee, was arrested on 21 May and is currently being held at a county jail in Juneau, Wisconsin. He lives with his wife and three children and had recently applied for a U visa, which offers protection to undocumented immigrants who have been victims of serious crimes.
The immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera has called for his release, and Morales Reyes is expected to appear before a Chicago immigration court next week for a bond hearing.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee police have launched a separate investigation into possible identity theft and witness intimidation in connection with the case. The local district attorney’s office confirmed the matter is under active review.
Morales Reyes had been due to testify in a July trial involving a man accused of assaulting him, a case that may now be further complicated by his sudden detention.
Noem had announced the arrest of 54-year-old Ramon Morales Reyes , alleging he had sent a letter vowing to shoot Trump and then flee to Mexico. The letter, shared by Noem and later highlighted by the White House and Trump allies on social media, was written in light blue ink and appeared to express fury over immigration policies.
However, a person familiar with the investigation told the AP that authorities now believe Morales Reyes did not write the letter. Instead, law enforcement suspected that he was framed, possibly to prevent him from testifying in an upcoming trial in which he is listed as a victim of assault. The source said that the handwritten threat did not match Morales Reyes' writing style after which officials concluded that the threat was not credible.
Despite this, the department of homeland security issued a statement naming Morales Reyes as the author and describing him as a threat, a move that has drawn criticism and confusion. The department has since said the investigation remains “ongoing,” and that Reyes is in the country illegally and has a criminal record.
His legal team disputed those claims, saying he is not currently facing any charges and has no knowledge of past convictions.
“There is really no way that it could be even remotely true,” said Kime Abduli, Morales Reyes’ immigration lawyer. “We're asking for a clarification and a correction from DHS to clear Ramon’s name of anything having to do with this.”
Morales Reyes, a dishwasher in Milwaukee, was arrested on 21 May and is currently being held at a county jail in Juneau, Wisconsin. He lives with his wife and three children and had recently applied for a U visa, which offers protection to undocumented immigrants who have been victims of serious crimes.
The immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera has called for his release, and Morales Reyes is expected to appear before a Chicago immigration court next week for a bond hearing.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee police have launched a separate investigation into possible identity theft and witness intimidation in connection with the case. The local district attorney’s office confirmed the matter is under active review.
Morales Reyes had been due to testify in a July trial involving a man accused of assaulting him, a case that may now be further complicated by his sudden detention.
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