Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced that a Mexican national who entered the United States unlawfully is currently in federal custody after allegedly threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump.
Noem stated in a press release on Wednesday that Ramon Morales-Reyes, aged 54, was apprehended on May 22 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As reported by DHS, Morales-Reyes sent a letter to an ICE field intelligence officer detailing a plot to kill Trump. This correspondence resulted in his arrest.
“We are fed up with this president interfering with us Mexicans — we have contributed more to this country than you white individuals,” the letter stated. “You have been deporting my family, and I believe it is time for Donald J. Trump to face the consequences of his actions. I will voluntarily return to Mexico, but not before I utilize my .30-06 rifle to shoot your esteemed president in the head — I will confront him at one of his major rallies.”
Morales-Reyes was apprehended by ICE in Wisconsin. He is currently incarcerated at the Dodge County Jail in Juneau, Wisconsin, while awaiting deportation proceedings. Between 1998 and 2005, he illegally crossed the United States border on at least nine occasions, as reported by the DHS.
The press release indicates that his criminal history comprises charges for felony hit-and-run, criminal property damage, and disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier.
Noem’s statement underscored the necessity of moderating severe political discourse and brought attention to the escalating danger to Trump’s safety.
“All politicians and media representatives ought to heed these ongoing threats to President Trump’s life and moderate their language,” Noem remarked.
Noem referenced a recent Instagram post by former FBI Director James Comey, which sparked alarm among Trump supporters. In the image, seashells were arranged to form the numbers “86 47,” which some interpreted as a veiled allusion to the assassination of the 47th president.
On May 16, the Secret Service questioned Comey regarding the post. He denied any malicious intent and deleted the image.
Noem also mentioned an assassination attempt on 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.
The threatening language from Democratic leaders and left-leaning media is compelling senior Trump officials to travel with additional security measures.
This encompasses FBI Assistant Director Dan Bongino and border czar Tom Homan. However, media outlets that often criticize them for their straightforward methods of reforming the bureau and enforcing immigration laws seem primarily focused on sensationalist aspects of the narrative, such as the expenses associated with those security details during a time when President Trump is aiming to reduce federal spending.
According to CBS News, referencing unnamed sources, the security arrangements for Homan amount to approximately $500,000 each month. An unnamed official indicated that the overall monthly expenditure for Homan’s protection—including agent salaries, flights, hotel accommodations, and other travel-related costs—approaches nearly $1 million, as the administration persists in safeguarding the prominent immigration hardliner.
“DHS guarantees the safety and protection of our leaders,” Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin informed CBS News on Friday, highlighting the “dangerous rhetoric” from politicians and activists who are targeting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement. She noted that the intense discourse has resulted in an increase in assaults and doxxing incidents, where officials’ personal details are disclosed online.
“We will persist in implementing measures to ensure the safety of Mr. Homan and his family,” McLaughlin further stated.
According to CBS News, referencing unnamed sources, the security arrangements for Homan amount to approximately $500,000 each month. An unnamed official indicated that the overall monthly expenditure for Homan’s protection—including agent salaries, flights, hotel accommodations, and other travel-related costs—approaches nearly $1 million, as the administration persists in safeguarding the prominent immigration hardliner.
“DHS guarantees the safety and protection of our leaders,” Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin informed CBS News on Friday, highlighting the “dangerous rhetoric” from politicians and activists who are targeting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement. She noted that the intense discourse has resulted in an increase in assaults and doxxing incidents, where officials’ personal details are disclosed online.
“We will persist in implementing measures to ensure the safety of Mr. Homan and his family,” McLaughlin further stated.
Homan is under the protection of a rotating team of special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative division of DHS, as per one source. Approximately 30 agents rotate through shifts to provide him with round-the-clock security coverage, an unnamed source informed CBS News.
“The security measures for Homan — encompassing a security team at his residence, during his commutes to the White House West Wing and the D.C. headquarters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as when he is in public — are funded by the Department of Homeland Security,” the outlet stated.
