Milwaukee Family Seeks Justice After False Accusations
The family of Ramón Morales Reyes, a Milwaukee resident wrongfully accused of threatening former President Donald Trump, is pursuing a $5.5 million lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They claim emotional distress from the incident that stemmed from a fabricated letter.
In May 2025, Morales Reyes was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Shortly after, then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly accused him of planning to harm Trump, citing a letter allegedly from Morales Reyes, which he did not write. The press release from DHS claimed he intended to “shoot your precious president in his head” before self-deporting.
Legal proceedings revealed that the letter was a setup by Demetric Scott, another Milwaukee resident, aiming to prevent Morales Reyes from testifying against him in an upcoming trial. Scott confessed to the frame-up and was convicted of identity theft and witness intimidation, receiving a sentence of over 16 years in prison. More details can be found here and here.
Legal Action and Emotional Impact
In a recent press conference in Milwaukee, Morales Reyes’ legal team accused DHS of knowingly spreading false information. Attorney Caine Oulahan stated that local authorities and the U.S. Secret Service had determined the letter was not authored by Morales Reyes before the DHS release, yet the misinformation was still published.
Morales Reyes’ children have publicly expressed their distress, with his daughter, Ana Morales, describing the impact on their family: “Seeing my dad being framed for something he did not do was very heartbreaking.” His son, Antonio Morales, voiced concerns about the portrayal of his father on social media, suggesting DHS aimed to intimidate immigrant communities.
The Morales Reyes family has indicated their intention to seek $5.5 million in damages for the emotional trauma caused by the DHS’s allegations. The family points to a social media post by DHS thanking ICE for detaining Morales Reyes, despite knowing the accusations were false. The White House also circulated an image of Morales Reyes in connection with the fraudulent letter, further complicating their situation.
Ongoing Deportation Proceedings Amid Rising ICE Activity
Despite the retraction of the accusations, Morales Reyes remains under deportation proceedings. This legal action coincides with a notable increase in ICE arrests in Wisconsin, with over 250 detentions in June, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, highlighted the escalation of ICE operations in Milwaukee, particularly around the July 4th weekend, and reported several instances of alleged excessive force by immigration agents. She emphasized the importance of continued vigilance from citizen networks monitoring ICE activities.
The DHS has yet to comment on the Morales Reyes family’s legal claims. Meanwhile, the family advocates for broader awareness and action against what they perceive as government overreach in immigration enforcement.
