Father of Three Released on Bond After Elaborate Frame-Up Scheme Unravels

The case of Ramon Morales-Reyes exposes a shocking abuse of our immigration system—a hardworking father was nearly deported based on fabricated threats against President Trump, orchestrated by the very criminal he was set to testify against. This Wisconsin dishwasher’s ordeal reveals how easily immigrants can become scapegoats in politically charged times, even when they’re the victims of violent crimes.

The Unraveling of a Dangerous Deception

On June 13, 2025, Ramon Morales-Reyes walked free from a Wisconsin detention center after posting$7,500 bond—three weeks after federal immigration agents arrested him based on fabricated evidence. The 54-year-old Mexican immigrant had been thrust into national headlines when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused him of writing threatening letters against President Trump.

The accusations quickly crumbled under scrutiny. Morales-Reyes doesn’t speak English fluently and cannot write in the language, making the eloquently written English threats immediately suspicious to investigators.

A Victim Becomes the Accused

The truth behind this elaborate deception is both disturbing and revealing. In September 2023, Morales-Reyes was violently attacked while riding his bicycle in Milwaukee. Demetric D. Scott allegedly knocked him off his bike, cut him with a box cutter, and stole the bicycle. Morales-Reyes, despite his undocumented status, courageously agreed to testify against his attacker.

Scott, facing armed robbery and aggravated battery charges with a July trial date looming, devised a sinister plan to eliminate his key witness. He forged multiple letters threatening President Trump and ICE agents, signing Morales-Reyes’ name and using his address as the return information.

The Frame-Up Scheme Exposed

Court documents reveal the calculated nature of Scott’s deception. In recorded jail calls, Scott explicitly outlined his strategy: “This dude is a goddamn illegal immigrant and they just need to pick his ass up… if he gets picked up by ICE, there won’t be a jury trial so they will probably dismiss it that day. That’s my plan.”

The forged letters contained inflammatory language designed to trigger maximum law enforcement response:

“We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans… 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.”

When confronted by investigators, Scott admitted to writing the letters, stating his goal was achieving “freedom” by preventing Morales-Reyes from testifying.

A Family Man’s Nightmare

Morales-Reyes represents the human cost of immigration scapegoating. A married father of three U.S. citizen children, he works as a dishwasher in Milwaukee and had recently applied for a U visa—protection available to crime victims who assist law enforcement. His attorney, Kime Abduli, described him as “not a dangerous person at all” and “a responsible husband and father, hard worker.”

The arrest traumatized his family. Immigration agents detained him after he dropped his daughter at school, a routine parental duty that became the moment his world collapsed. Christine Neumann-Ortiz of Voces de la Frontera noted that Morales-Reyes was “relieved” and “very grateful for all of the support he’s received” upon his release.

Political Exploitation and Its Consequences

The case highlights dangerous political opportunism in immigration enforcement. Secretary Noem’s social media post announcing Morales-Reyes’ arrest included his photograph and excerpts from the forged letter, declaring: “Thanks to our ICE officers, this illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump is behind bars.”

This announcement came even as investigators already suspected Morales-Reyes had been framed. The post, amplified by Trump supporters and the White House, remains online despite the revelation of Scott’s confession.

The Broader Immigration Context

This case occurs amid heightened immigration enforcement and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Immigration Judge Carla Espinoza determined that Morales-Reyes posed no threat to the community, yet federal authorities continue pursuing deportation proceedings.

The irony is stark: an immigrant who courageously cooperated with law enforcement as a crime victim nearly faced deportation because of that very cooperation. This sends a chilling message to other immigrant crime victims about the risks of seeking justice.

Legal Ramifications and Justice Delayed

Scott now faces felony charges including witness intimidation and identity theft. His elaborate scheme not only victimized Morales-Reyes twice—first through violent assault, then through false accusation—but also wasted significant law enforcement resources and potentially compromised national security investigations.

Meanwhile, Morales-Reyes’ U visa application remains pending in a system backlogged for years. His immigration attorney, Cain Oulahan, emphasized the need for swift correction: “This administration has jumped quickly to make announcements that they think will play well to their narrative of immigrants being dangerous.”

The Path Forward

As Morales-Reyes fights deportation proceedings, his case serves as a cautionary tale about the intersection of criminal justice and immigration enforcement. The willingness of officials to publicize accusations before thorough investigation, combined with the political utility of anti-immigrant narratives, created conditions where an innocent man nearly lost everything.

The case also demonstrates the vulnerability of immigrant crime victims. Despite applying for legal protection through the U visa program specifically designed for his situation, Morales-Reyes found himself detained and facing deportation based on fabricated evidence.

A Call for Accountability and Reform

This injustice demands accountability at multiple levels. Secretary Noem should publicly correct her false accusations and remove the misleading social media posts that continue to endanger Morales-Reyes and his family. The Department of Homeland Security must examine how such obvious fabrications reached the level of public announcement without proper verification.

More broadly, this case illustrates the need for immigration reform that protects crime victims and witnesses. When immigrants fear that cooperation with law enforcement could lead to deportation—even when they’re legally protected—public safety suffers as criminals escape accountability.

The story of Ramon Morales-Reyes is ultimately about more than one man’s ordeal. It’s about the kind of society we choose to be: one that protects the vulnerable and seeks truth, or one that sacrifices justice for political convenience. As Morales-Reyes continues his legal fight to remain with his American children, his case stands as a test of our commitment to fairness and the rule of law.

Take Action: Contact your representatives to demand accountability in immigration enforcement and support for crime victims regardless of status. Share this story to ensure the truth reaches as many people as the original false accusations.