What to learn about Ramon Morales Reyes, a Wisconsin man falsely accused of threatening Trump’s life

Ramón Morales Reyes was thrust into the nationwide highlight final week when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused him of writing letters threatening Trump.

Agency officers quietly acknowledged Wednesday that Morales Reyes is not a suspect in that menace, a day after one other man was charged in Wisconsin for forging the letters. But Trump administration social media posts blasting Morales Reyes as a possible presidential murderer remained on-line.

Attorneys for Morales Reyes say he is not a hazard to the general public, and activists imagine he’s a scapegoat in an growing hostile atmosphere for immigrants. Meanwhile, federal authorities say they’re pushing forward with deportation partly as a result of the 54-year-old doesn’t have authorized permission to stay within the nation.

Here are issues to know in regards to the case:

Morales Reyes immigrated from Mexico within the Nineteen Eighties, in line with his legal professional. A married man with three U.S. citizen youngsters, he labored as a dishwasher in Milwaukee.

Federal immigration brokers took him into custody final month after he dropped his daughter in school.

Days later Noem blasted his photograph on social media, together with an excerpt of a letter he purportedly wrote in English calling for Trump to be shot at a rally. The arrest was held up by the White House and Trump supporters as successful within the administration’s aggressive crackdown on immigration.

But the small print rapidly unraveled, together with the truth that Morales Reyes doesn’t converse English properly and may’t write within the language.

On Tuesday, authorities in Wisconsin charged Demetric D. Scott of forging the letter in an effort responsible Morales Reyes, a possible witness towards him in a 2023 assault. Scott is accused of knocking Morales Reyes off his bicycle, injuring him with a field cutter after which taking the bike, in line with courtroom data.

Court paperwork mentioned legislation enforcement officers listened to calls Scott made in regards to the letters and a plot to have somebody picked up by immigration brokers, all aiming to have the armed theft and aggravated battery expenses dismissed. He additionally admitted to police that he wrote the letters, paperwork mentioned.

Scott, who’s within the Milwaukee County Jail, is awaiting a July trial. He’s due in courtroom on Tuesday on the newer expenses, together with felony witness intimidation and identification theft.

A message left Tuesday for the state public defender’s workplace wasn’t instantly returned. Scott’s attorneys have beforehand declined remark.

Earlier this yr, Morales Reyes utilized for a U visa, which is for folks within the nation illegally who change into victims of significant crimes. The software was pending, in line with his attorneys.

Morales Reyes has been detained at Dodge Detention Center in Juneau, which is about 70 miles north of Milwaukee.

Homeland Security officers haven’t publicly corrected the data on the presidential menace.

Instead they’ve doubled down on pursuing an immigration case towards him. They allege Morales Reyes entered the nation illegally no less than 9 occasions between 1998 and 2005 and that he has a legal background.

“This criminal illegal alien is no longer under investigation for threats against the President, but will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,” DHS mentioned in a press release Wednesday.

Morales Reyes is accused of two incidents in 1996, in line with his attorneys.

In one he was arrested for damaging property in a hit-and-run however not charged. In one other he was ticketed for disorderly conduct and legal harm after a dispute along with his spouse. No one was injured, in line with his legal professional.

Attorneys for Morales Reyes mentioned the data on the menace must be corrected rapidly as their shopper and his household are going through harassment and threats.

“This administration has jumped quickly to make announcements that they think will play well to their narrative of immigrants being dangerous,” mentioned legal professional Cain Oulahan.

Immigrant rights advocates have rallied round Morales Reyes, together with a gaggle who stood outdoors a downtown Chicago immigration courtroom Wednesday forward of a short listening to within the deportation case. Several held a big banner that learn, “Stop Scapegoating Immigrants.”

Morales Reyes, carrying a inexperienced jail jumpsuit, appeared by way of livestream. He spoke via a Spanish interpreter, saying he understood the case.

Oulahan advised the choose that he hoped for a fast decision, contemplating the general public accusations made towards Morales Reyes. He’s in search of for Morales Reyes to be launched on bond.

A authorities legal professional advised the choose she didn’t have any details about the menace accusation.

Immigration Judge Carla Espinoza mentioned extra time was wanted to overview paperwork. She set one other listening to for June 10.

The state of affairs has been tough for Morales Reyes and his kinfolk.

“He’s a family man. This has been extremely stressful on him,” mentioned Oulahan. “He’s very fearful.”

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