A 54-year-old undocumented immigrant, identified as Ramon Morales-Reyes, is facing ongoing detention following a Chicago immigration court ruling this week. The decision allows additional time for a government attorney to analyze evidence in his case, which involves allegations of threatening letters directed at former President Donald Trump.
Morales-Reyes’ attorney expressed optimism about the possibility of his release on bond after a hearing scheduled for the coming Tuesday. According to Cain Oulahan, who represents Morales-Reyes, the immigration judge will determine if the Mexican national poses a flight risk or a danger to the community.
Morales-Reyes, who has lived in the U.S. since 1986, is a dishwasher and has three children who are U.S. citizens. He also owns a home in Milwaukee, where he has resided. During an interview following the court proceedings, Oulahan revealed the family is currently under stress, stating, “They’re having a hard time. They really want to see him again, but they’re trying to keep a low profile.”
Oulahan also noted that threats have been made on social media against Morales-Reyes’ family following the announcement of his arrest by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in late May. Morales-Reyes was taken into custody on May 22 outside his daughter’s school on suspicion of writing letters threatening the former president.
In the wake of his arrest, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted the detention, asserting, “Thanks to our ICE officers, this illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump is behind bars,” in a statement made on May 28.
However, doubts regarding Morales-Reyes’ involvement have emerged. A criminal complaint filed by the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office on May 24 revealed that an inmate, Demetric Scott, confessed to penning the threatening letters. Scott allegedly aimed to frame Morales-Reyes in an effort to prevent him from testifying at Scott’s upcoming trial for armed robbery and battery charges.
The documents indicate that Scott, who has a lengthy criminal history, is now facing multiple charges, including identity theft and felony intimidation of a witness, related to the letters he wrote under Morales-Reyes’ name. Scott’s alleged actions were reportedly motivated by a robbery incident involving Morales-Reyes that took place in 2023.
As the case remains pending, the Milwaukee DA’s Office declined to comment on when DHS was informed of Scott’s confession. A senior DHS official clarified that Morales-Reyes is no longer under investigation for making threats against the president but will stay in ICE custody pending deportation due to his illegal status and prior arrests for various offenses.
Oulahan contended that local law enforcement might have known that Morales-Reyes did not author the letters. Notably, prior to his detention, Morales-Reyes had applied for a special visa for crime victims, a matter that was in processing at the federal level.
In Morales-Reyes’ latest court appearance, DHS attorney Caitlin Corcoran requested additional time to examine the DA’s criminal complaint against Scott. Although Corcoran did not oppose Morales-Reyes’ eligibility for bond, she acknowledged that there is a prior conviction for disorderly conduct but lacked confirmation regarding a 1996 hit-and-run conviction. Oulahan added that even if a hit-and-run conviction existed, it would not disqualify Morales-Reyes from being granted bond.
— Halle Lukasiewicz reported from Chicago, and Dan Mangan reported from New York
