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Migrant arrested over letter threatening to assassinate Trump | Migrant arrested over letter threatening to assassinate Trump |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Ramon Morales-Reyes, 54, is a Mexican national, officials say | Ramon Morales-Reyes, 54, is a Mexican national, officials say |
An undocumented US immigrant has been arrested after he sent a handwritten letter to the government saying he planned to assassinate President Donald Trump, officials said. | An undocumented US immigrant has been arrested after he sent a handwritten letter to the government saying he planned to assassinate President Donald Trump, officials said. |
The man, 54-year-old Ramon Morales-Reyes, said in the letter he would "shoot your precious president in is [sic] head" before self-deporting back to his native country of Mexico. | The man, 54-year-old Ramon Morales-Reyes, said in the letter he would "shoot your precious president in is [sic] head" before self-deporting back to his native country of Mexico. |
He is now in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) detention in Wisconsin with deportation proceedings pending, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said. | He is now in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) detention in Wisconsin with deportation proceedings pending, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said. |
Mr Morales-Reyes had a criminal record including multiple arrests and attempts to enter the US illegally, the DHS said. The BBC could not find a lawyer for Mr Morales-Reyes to comment. | |
"Thanks to our ICE officers, this illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump is behind bars," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. | "Thanks to our ICE officers, this illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump is behind bars," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. |
Homeland security officials said authorities received the letter from Mr Morales-Reyes on 21 May. | |
They included a copy of the letter in a press release. Written in blue ink on lined-paper, the letter said: "We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans." | They included a copy of the letter in a press release. Written in blue ink on lined-paper, the letter said: "We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans." |
"You have been deporting my family and I think it is time Donald J. Trump gets what he has coming to him." | "You have been deporting my family and I think it is time Donald J. Trump gets what he has coming to him." |
The final line of the letter said: "I will see him at one of his big rallies." | The final line of the letter said: "I will see him at one of his big rallies." |
Mr Morales-Reyes was arrested a day after the letter was received. According to officials, he had attempted to enter the US illegally nine times between 1998 and 2005, and had been arrested for a felony hit and run. | |
A copy of the handwritten letter mailed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials | A copy of the handwritten letter mailed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials |
After vowing to use the US military to carry out mass deportations during his election campaign, Trump's administration has aggressively pursued undocumented migrants. | After vowing to use the US military to carry out mass deportations during his election campaign, Trump's administration has aggressively pursued undocumented migrants. |
Mr Morales-Reyes' mention of self-deporting in his letter appears to be a reference to a DHS announcement of $1,000 (£751) bonuses and paid travel for people who leave the US voluntarily. | |
Some of Trump's methods, including using the 18th Century Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants his administration accuses of gang activity, have been blocked by the courts. | Some of Trump's methods, including using the 18th Century Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants his administration accuses of gang activity, have been blocked by the courts. |
He's also called for an additional 20,000 DHS officers to enforce his deportation policies. | He's also called for an additional 20,000 DHS officers to enforce his deportation policies. |
In her statement, Noem noted that this latest threat against President Trump comes less than a year after a gunman attempted to assassinate him at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. | In her statement, Noem noted that this latest threat against President Trump comes less than a year after a gunman attempted to assassinate him at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. |
She also referenced a recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey in which he posted images of sea shells on a beach spelling '8-6-4-7'. The message was interpreted by some as a call to assassinate Trump, the 47th president. Comey denied the allegations and took down the post. | She also referenced a recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey in which he posted images of sea shells on a beach spelling '8-6-4-7'. The message was interpreted by some as a call to assassinate Trump, the 47th president. Comey denied the allegations and took down the post. |
"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. | "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. |
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