U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Ramon Morales-Reyes, a 54-year-old Mexican national, in Wisconsin last Thursday after he allegedly mailed a handwritten letter to an ICE officer threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump. Morales-Reyes, who has a history of multiple illegal entries into the U.S. between 1999 and 2005, was arrested following the receipt of the letter by an ICE officer. The letter, which was confirmed by an additional ICE source to Fox News, included racially charged content and was seen as a direct threat to the President. Morales-Reyes stated in the letter that he would self-deport to Mexico after he shot Trump in the head, with the threat also referencing a .30-06 Springfield rifle, indicating his intention to commit a violent act.
ICE confirmed the authenticity of the letter and stated that Morales-Reyes remains in custody at Dodge County Jail in Juneau, Wisconsin, where he will be deported. The arrest comes during a period of heightened scrutiny on threats made to ICE officers, with recent cases in Texas and North Carolina also resulting in arrests for similar threats. ICE has been working to address these threats, which align with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) broader efforts to enforce immigration laws and protect law enforcement agents.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem issued a statement following the arrest, emphasizing the seriousness of the threats made against President Trump and the need for all politicians and media to take these threats seriously. Noem also noted the recent incidents, including the shooting attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the call by former FBI Director Comey for the president’s assassination, as contributing factors to the current climate of threats. The case underscores the complex interplay between immigration policy and the safety of public officials, raising important questions about the balance between national security and the rights of individuals within the U.S., including those who have entered the country illegally.