Migrant in US illegally arrested after alleged Trump assassination threat: DHS
A Mexican national who entered the United States illegally is in federal custody after allegedly making a threat to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem announced Wednesday in a press release that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 54-year-old Ramon Morales-Reyes on May 22.
The arrest came after an ICE field intelligence officer said he received a handwritten letter from Morales-Reyes, in which he outlined a plan to kill Trump, according to DHS.
“We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans — we have done more for this country than you white people,” the letter read. “You have been deporting my family and I think it is time Donald J. Trump get what he has coming to him. I will self deport myself back to Mexico, but not before I use my 30 yard 6 to shoot your precious president in his head — I will see him at one of his big rallies.”
What is known about Morales-Reyes
ICE took Morales-Reyes into custody in Wisconsin. He is being held at Dodge County Jail in Juneau, Wisconsin, pending deportation proceedings. According to DHS, he illegally crossed the U.S. border at least nine times between 1998 and 2005.
His criminal record includes charges for felony hit-and-run, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier, according to the press release.
Noem links threat to political rhetoric
In her statement, Noem called for inflammatory political language to quiet down and highlighted what she described as a growing threat to Trump’s safety.
“All politicians and members of the media should take notice of these repeated attempts on President Trump’s life and tone down their rhetoric,” Noem said.
Noem cited a recent Instagram post from former FBI Director James Comey that sparked concern among Trump supporters. The image featured seashells arranged to spell “86 47” — a phrase some interpreted as a coded reference to killing the 47th president. The Secret Service interviewed Comey about the post on May 16. He denied any violent intent and deleted the image.
Noem also pointed to the attempted assassination of Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, when a bullet narrowly missed the then-candidate’s head and grazed his ear.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
