CHICAGO — An immigration judge announced Tuesday that an immigrant previously accused of plotting to assassinate former President Donald Trump can now be released on bond from a Wisconsin prison. The man, Ramo?n Morales Reyes, became entangled in this situation due to allegations initiated by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who claimed on social media that Morales Reyes had authored a threatening letter to Trump. The post included snippets of the letter and a photo of Morales Reyes. However, the accusations unraveled when Wisconsin authorities discovered that Morales Reyes, who struggles with English, was wrongly implicated. The true culprit was revealed as Demetric D. Scott, who wrote the letter in an attempt to dismiss his criminal charges. Morales Reyes was actually a victim of Scott’s violent attack in 2023 during which his bike was stolen. Scheduled as a key witness in Scott’s upcoming trial for armed robbery and aggravated battery, Morales Reyes found himself in an unexpected legal quagmire.
Judge Carla Espinoza, presiding over an immigration court in Chicago, ruled Morales Reyes could be released on a $7,500 bond. During a brief hearing, Judge Espinoza stated that Morales Reyes posed no threat to public safety. Morales Reyes, 54, attended the hearing virtually from Dodge Detention Center, situated approximately 70 miles north of Milwaukee. His release could be on the horizon this week unless the federal government decides to appeal the bond decision.
In contrast to the court’s ruling, an attorney representing the federal government chose not to comment during the hearing. A statement from the Department of Homeland Security emphasized their ongoing efforts to detain and deport immigrants without legal status, though they sidestepped questions about a potential appeal against Morales Reyes’ bond. Morales Reyes, who has three U.S. citizen children, works as a dishwasher in Milwaukee. Arrested by immigration officials after taking his child to school, Morales Reyes, who immigrated from Mexico in the 1980s, currently lacks legal status in the U.S. He recently applied for a U visa, meant for victims of significant crimes who are undocumented. However, securing this visa is often a lengthy process.
Despite the discredited accusation, Noem’s social media post, which circulated among Trump supporters and maintained Morales Reyes as a threat, has not been retracted. Morales Reyes’ attorney, Cain Oulahan, strongly condemned the misinformation and demanded public acknowledgment of the error, pinpointing Scott as the true author of the threatening letter.
Speaking to the press before the hearing, Morales Reyes’ daughter expressed admiration for her father’s integrity and dedication to his family. She described him as a hardworking individual dedicated to providing for his loved ones. “My dad is not a threat to anyone. He is a good man who got caught up in a terrible situation,” she asserted, appealing for justice to be served now that the truth is known. Anna Morales conveyed the deep importance of her father’s presence in their lives.
Meanwhile, Scott faces fresh charges related to the forged letter, including felony witness intimidation and theft. His hearing has been postponed to June 23, and he remains in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail. This unfolding case highlights the complexities and challenges encountered by immigrants within the U.S. legal system.