Threat to shoot Trump was not written by Mexican man, investigators now say

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The handwritten letter Morales-Reyes allegedly sent to ICE. (Department of Homeland Security)

A claim by Homeland Security that an immigrant threatened the life of President Donald Trump has begun to unravel.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced an arrest of a 54-year-old man who was living in the U.S. illegally, saying he had written a letter threatening to kill Trump and would then return to Mexico. The story received a flood of media attention and was highlighted by the White House and Trump's allies. Noem also shared the letter on X along with a photo of Morales Reyes, and the White House also shared it on its social media accounts. 

Law enforcement now believes Ramon Morales-Reyes may not have written letter

But investigators actually believe the man may have been framed so that he would get arrested and be deported from the U.S. before he got a chance to testify in a trial as a victim of assault, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Side-by-side images of Ramon Morales-Reyes and the letter. (Credit: Department of Homeland Security)

Law enforcement officials believe the man, Ramon Morales Reyes, never wrote the letter with a message written in light blue ink expressing anger over Trump’s deportations and threatening to shoot him in the head with a rifle at a rally. 

As part of the investigation, officials had contacted Morales Reyes and asked for a handwriting sample and concluded his handwriting and the threatening letter didn’t match and that the threat was not credible, the person said.

What they're saying:

In an emailed statement asking for information about the letter and the new information about Morales Reyes, the Department of Homeland Security said "the investigation into the threat is ongoing. Over the course of the investigation, this individual was determined to be in the country illegally and that he had a criminal record. He will remain in custody."

Who was arrested? 

Morales Reyes is a Mexican national who allegedly entered the United States illegally on nine separate occasions between 1999 and 2005.

The backstory:

Morales-Reyes had been previously arrested for felony hit-and-run, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct with "a domestic abuse modifier," according to the Department of Homeland Security. 

What did the letter say? 

Dig deeper:

"We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans – We have done more for this country than you white people – you have been deporting my family and I think it is time Donald J. Trump get what he has coming to him," the letter read.

EARLIER: Man threatened to shoot Trump in head "for messing with us Mexicans," ICE says

"I will self deport myself back to Mexico but not before I use my 30 yard 6 to shoot your precious president in is head – I will see him at one of his big ralleys [sic]." He reportedly appears to be referencing the .30-06 Springfield rifle.

The letter was received on May 21 and Morales-Reyes was arrested last Thursday, DHS said.