US Homeland Security Chief claimed immigrant threatened to kill Trump; Investigators now doubt it
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made a claim: an undocumented immigrant had threatened to assassinate President Donald Trump. The claim is now being questioned by investigators, as per reports by The Associated Press (AP). The story drew swift attention from the White House and Trump allies. Now, new details emerge suggesting the man may have been framed.
According to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity, investigators now believe the man, 54-year-old Ramon Morales Reyes, did not write the threatening letter Noem referenced. The letter had been shared publicly by Noem and her department, and was allegedly sent to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office.
It contained a message written in blue ink threatening to shoot Trump at a rally and criticising deportation policies.
Noem publicly announced the arrest and shared an image of Morales Reyes along with the letter on social media. The letter threatened to shoot Trump in the head with a rifle, and planned to return to Mexico afterward.
A handwriting analysis reportedly showed that Morales Reyes' writing did not match the letter, and officials determined the threat was not credible.
Officials now suspect that Morales Reyes may have been targeted in an effort to get him arrested and deported — a move that would prevent him from testifying in an upcoming assault trial in which he is a key witness.
'The investigation into the threat is ongoing,' the Department of Homeland Security said in an email to AP. '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.'
However, Morales Reyes' attorneys stated he is not currently facing any criminal charges, and they have not seen documentation of past convictions.
Morales Reyes, who works as a dishwasher in Milwaukee and lives with his wife and three children, had applied for a U visa — reserved for undocumented immigrants who are victims of serious crimes and assist law enforcement. His application was filed by attorney Kime Abduli.
Abduli strongly disputed the claim that Morales Reyes could have written the letter. 'There is really no way that it could be even remotely true,' she told the AP. 'We're asking for a clarification and a correction from DHS to clear Ramon's name of anything having to do with this.'
Abduli said her client cannot read or write in Spanish and does not speak English. She also noted it remains unclear whether Morales Reyes was arrested because of the letter or for another reason.
ICE records show Morales Reyes has been in custody at a county jail in Juneau, Wisconsin, since May 21. He is expected to appear in immigration court in Chicago next week to request bond, according to attorney Cain Oulahan, who is representing him in his deportation case.
(With inputs from AP)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Canadian PM Mark Carney's daughter's academic prospects caught in Trump-Harvard standoff
Turns out, even being the Prime Minister of the immediate neighboring country can't spare you from Trump's 'wrath'. Canadian PM Mark Carney is one of those stressed fathers whose daughter's academic aspirations have been put to question – thanks to US President Donald Trump's move to ban international student from Harvard University. What's happening? Cleo Carney, the eldest daughter of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, is among the nearly 7,000 international students facing uncertainty due to escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard University. Cleo Carney, who grew up in London while her father was Governor of the Bank of England, just finished her freshman year at the embattled Cambridge-based institution. The daughter of the Canadian PM could reportedly be barred from returning to Harvard University in the fall thanks to the ongoing standoff between the Trump administration and the Ivy League school. A first-year economics student at Harvard, Cleo is pursuing a major in social studies with a minor in energy and the environment. She is also actively involved in environmental advocacy, serving on the board of the Bluedot Institute and leading sustainability initiatives on campus. The Trump-Harvard standoff: The conflict began when President Donald Trump's administration accused Harvard of fostering antisemitism, promoting 'woke' ideologies, and favoring minority admissions over white and Asian applicants. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like News For Jack Nicholson, 87, He Has Been Confirmed To Be... Reportingly Undo In retaliation, the administration announced a freeze on nearly $3 billion in federal research grants and threatened to revoke Harvard's eligibility to host international students. These measures have created an atmosphere of uncertainty for thousands of foreign students, including Cleo Carney. In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the federal government, arguing that the actions violated academic freedom and due process. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the ban on international students, providing a temporary reprieve. However, the legal battle is ongoing, and the outcome remains uncertain. What's ahead for Cleo Carney now? The daughter of PM Carney had set out to follow in her father's footsteps, pursuing a bachelor's in economics at Harvard University. Foreign students like Cleo Carney, who make up more than a quarter of Harvard's student body, could be forced to transfer to other institutions or lose their legal status after the university refused a request to turn over foreign students' records, including any video or audio of their protest activity in the past five years. Though a Massachusetts judge issued a preliminary injunction against the federal government Thursday, the saga is not over. The White House confirmed Carney, along with other international students, would have to let go of the 'Harvard dream' if the administration gets its way. However, there will still be some options left in case Cleo Carney decides on transferring to another institution or pursuing her studies through online platforms. Who is Cleo Carney? Cleo Carney is one of the four children of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and economist Diana Fox Carney. Born in Canada, Cleo spent part of her early life in London before relocating to Ottawa. She is currently a first-year student at Harvard University, pursuing a degree in economics with a focus on environmental policy. At Harvard, Cleo is actively involved in sustainability initiatives. She serves as a member of the Council for Student Sustainability Leaders and represents the university's Resource Efficiency Program, aiming to reduce waste and energy consumption on campus. Additionally, she is an analyst with the ClearVision Ventures team at Harvard's Venture Capital Group, focusing on investments in sustainable technologies. Apart from her academic commitments, Cleo contributes to Bluedot Living, a climate and sustainability newsletter, where she produces articles, interviews, and recipes promoting sustainable living. She has also hosted a cooking and climate conversation series, featuring discussions on environmental topics. Cleo is passionate about environmental issues and has gained experience working on youth environmental education projects. She has interned at organizations such as TechMet Ltd, a firm focused on sourcing minerals for the electric transition, and Dentons Canada LLP.
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Wait and watch…': India, US working to give preferential market access to businesses, says Piyush Goyal on trade deal
"Both the US and India share good relations and we will continue to work together to resolve issues," Piyush Goyal said. (AI image) India-US trade deal: India and the United States aim to provide preferential market access to their respective businesses, with teams from both nations actively collaborating on the proposed bilateral trade agreement, according to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal . "Both countries are committed to work together, both countries desire to give preferential access to each other's businesses and we are working towards the bilateral trade agreement," Goyal told reporters in Paris according to a PTI report. Regarding Trump's announcement to increase tariffs on steel and aluminium to 50 per cent, Goyal indicated that both nations would continue their bilateral efforts to address these matters. "Let us wait and watch ...both the US and India share good relations and we will continue to work together to resolve all these issues bilaterally," he said. Also Read | Will the Donald Trump administration be forced to give billions of dollars in tariff refunds? A delegation of US representatives is currently in India for talks regarding the proposed interim trade arrangement between both nations. The timing of this visit is crucial as both countries are expected to reach an interim trade agreement by June end, with India seeking complete exemption from the 26 per cent reciprocal duty on domestic products. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The Indian chief negotiator, Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal, completed his four-day diplomatic mission to Washington last month. He engaged in discussions with his American counterpart regarding the proposed agreement. Goyal also visited Washington to accelerate the trade negotiations. In February, US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled plans to negotiate the initial phase of a mutually advantageous, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement by fall (September-October) of 2025. The agreement seeks to increase bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, up from the present $191 billion. Also Read | 'Work of fiction…': Will Donald Trump bury US government in debt with multitrillion-dollar tax breaks? Even Elon Musk is concerned According to trade experts, the Trump administration's additional import duty increase would affect Indian exporters, particularly those involved in value-added and finished steel products and automotive components. On May 30, Trump declared a doubling of current 25% duties on steel and aluminium imports effective June 4. The initial implementation of this provision by Trump in 2018 established 25% duty on steel and 10% on aluminium. The aluminium tariffs were increased to 25% in February 2025. During 2024-25, Indian exports of iron, steel, and aluminium products to the US totalled $4.56 billion, comprising $587.5 million in iron and steel, $3.1 billion in iron or steel articles, and $860 million in aluminium and related items. India has submitted an official notification to the World Trade Organization (WTO), maintaining its position to implement countervailing duties on US products in response to previous steel tariffs. The United States maintained its position as India's main trading partner for the fourth successive year in 2024-25, with two-way trade reaching $131.84 billion. The US contributes approximately 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent of imports, and 10.73 per cent of the nation's overall merchandise trade. Also Read | 'Way better to take 25% tariff hit…': Apple exports 2.9 million iPhones from India to US despite Trump's pressure; China sees big fall Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
37 minutes ago
- First Post
How Ukrainian drones struck multiple Russian airbases in Kyiv's most daring operation yet
In one of its most daring operations, Ukraine struck multiple Russian airbases using long-range drones. The precision attacks damaged or destroyed over 40 strategic aircraft, including bombers used to launch missiles on Ukrainian cities read more (Left) Head of the Ukraine's Security Service Vasyl Maliuk looks at a map of an airfield, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in an unknown location in Ukraine, in this handout picture released June 1, 2025; (Right) Smoke rises above the area following what local authorities called a drone attack on a military unit in the Sredny settlement, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in the Usolsky district of the Irkutsk region, Russia, in this still image from a video published June 1, 2025. Ukraine press service & Telegram Ukraine successfully carried out a drone assault deep into Russian territory on Sunday, targeting strategic airbases and dealing one of the most significant blows to Moscow's military aviation assets since the start of the war. The attack, described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a 'brilliant' and 'absolutely unique operation,' comes just ahead of renewed peace negotiations between the two countries in Istanbul. How Ukraine carried out the operation The aerial assault was the result of planning that took more than 18 months, Ukrainian officials confirmed. The attack was executed under the codename 'Spider's Web' (also referred to as 'Web' in some official communications) and targeted four key Russian airbases spread across multiple time zones. The long-range mission struck airfields in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, Olenya in the Arctic, and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo east of Moscow. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to a military source who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press, the entire operation was supervised personally by Zelenskyy. It involved the smuggling of first-person view (FPV) drones into Russian territory, where they were concealed inside mobile wooden sheds. These sheds were then mounted on trucks and transported to airfield perimeters. 'Later, drones were hidden under the roofs of these houses while already placed on trucks. At the right moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers,' the official said. Supporting video and images circulating on Russian social media platforms showed drones launching vertically from the trucks, with roofing panels strewn nearby on the ground. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which claimed responsibility for the strike, estimated the total damage at approximately $7 billion and stated that 34 per cent of Russia's fleet of strategic missile carriers had been hit. These included Tu-95 and Tu-22M bombers, which Russia has used extensively for missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, as well as A-50 aircraft that serve as airborne command and control centres. How damaged is Russia's strategic aviation Ukraine's drone offensive resulted in direct hits on 41 aircraft stationed at Russian military airbases. Among the targeted planes were Tu-95 'Bear' bombers and Tu-22M supersonic aircraft. Both have been central to Russia's aerial campaign against Ukraine, delivering long-range cruise missile attacks. A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft were also struck, a serious blow to Russian coordination and radar surveillance capabilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Video shared by a Ukrainian security source with Reuters showed large bombers ablaze on the tarmac. While the footage could not be independently verified, its visual matches to satellite imagery of Russian bases suggest it was filmed at the Belaya airfield in the Irkutsk region. 🇺🇦 #Ukraine - 🇷🇺 #Russia: Ukraine struck four Russian airbases in a coordinated long-range drone attack, destroying over 40 aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, as well as an A-50 surveillance jet. The drones were smuggled deep into Russia, hidden inside wooden sheds… — POPULAR FRONT (@PopularFront_) June 1, 2025 Photographs provided by the source showed numerous quadcopter drones staged inside a warehouse prior to deployment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Other images displayed the wooden shed structures with their metal roofing removed, exposing drones inside the roof cavity. Social media clips on Russian Telegram channels appeared to confirm this deployment method. Russian authorities acknowledged attacks on airbases in Irkutsk and Murmansk regions. Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Defence said air defence systems repelled drone strikes in the Amur region in the Far East and in the western territories of Ivanovo and Ryazan. These regions lie thousands of kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Igor Kobzev, governor of the Irkutsk region, confirmed a drone assault on a military unit near Sredny village, close to the Belaya base, and noted that drones had been launched from a truck. 100% made in Ukraine Zelenskyy pointed out that the entire attack had been developed and executed by Ukrainian forces without foreign military involvement. 'It's genuinely satisfying when something I authorised a year and six months ago comes to fruition and deprives Russians of over forty units of strategic aviation. We will continue this work,' he wrote in a post on X. In his nightly address, Zelenskyy stated that 117 drones were used in the assault and hailed the operation as Ukraine's longest-range strike to date. 'This is our longest-range operation,' Zelenskyy noted, adding that all personnel involved in the planning and execution had been safely evacuated from Russia shortly before the strike. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk delivered a report regarding today's operation. An absolutely brilliant result. A result achieved solely by Ukraine. One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution. Our most long-range… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2025 He also disclosed that the operation had been coordinated from an office positioned next to a local Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) branch — a daring detail meant to highlight the proximity and effectiveness of Ukraine's covert activities. 'This is an absolutely brilliant outcome,' Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post. 'And an outcome produced by Ukraine independently.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Russia responded Russia launched what Ukraine's air force called the largest drone barrage since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces fired 472 drones and seven missiles across various Ukrainian targets on Sunday. The head of communications for Ukraine's Air Force, Yuriy Ignat, confirmed these figures in a press briefing. A particularly deadly Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian army training unit killed at least 12 service members and wounded more than 60. The unit was located away from the front lines, but remained within reach of Russian reconnaissance and strike drones. Following the attack, Ukrainian army commander Mykhailo Drapatyi submitted his resignation. Ukraine has faced an ongoing shortage of troops and often avoids concentrated troop gatherings to reduce visibility to Russian aerial reconnaissance. 'The skies across the front line are saturated with Russian drones looking for targets,' a military spokesperson said. In a separate series of overnight incidents in Russian territory, drone debris caused fires and infrastructure damage in the Kursk and Voronezh regions. In Kursk, 57 drones were shot down, and falling wreckage ignited fires in residential areas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Voronezh, 16 drones were intercepted, but debris severed power lines that collapsed onto the M-4 expressway — a vital transport link. Both regional governors confirmed the incidents and stated there were no injuries. What this means for Russia-Ukraine peace talks Also on Sunday, Russian authorities reported the collapse of two bridges in separate regions — Bryansk and Kursk — both bordering Ukraine. The incidents caused train derailments and at least seven deaths. Russia's Investigative Committee initially attributed the incidents to 'explosions,' but later removed the term from its official press release, refraining from confirming the cause. The large-scale Ukrainian drone operation occurred just ahead of a scheduled round of direct peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul. Zelenskyy confirmed that Defence Minister Rustem Umerov would lead the Ukrainian delegation. Today, a brilliant operation was carried out. The preparation took over a year and a half. What's most interesting, is that the 'office' of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions. In total, 117 drones were used in… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2025 'We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people,' Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram. Kyiv has demanded that Moscow provide a written memorandum outlining its position prior to negotiations. Zelenskyy also reiterated Ukraine's readiness for a ceasefire: 'Not for a single second did we want this war. Since March 11, the US proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire has been on the table. It was the Russians who chose to continue the war.' He continued, 'Pressure is truly needed, pressure on Russia that should bring it back to reality. Pressure through sanctions. Pressure from our forces. Pressure through diplomacy. All of it must work together.' US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was briefed on the attack while visiting Nellis Air Force Base. A senior American defence official said that Washington was not given advance warning of the Ukrainian drone strikes and noted that the technical complexity of the operation was unlike anything previously seen in the conflict. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
