An illegal immigrant serving a lengthy prison sentence for the murder of a Michigan woman has filed a federal lawsuit against President Donald Trump, demanding $75 million in damages, a public apology, and U.S. citizenship. Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 27, who was previously deported from the United States, is serving a sentence of 39 to 102 years for killing Ruby Garcia in March 2024. Garcia's body, bearing multiple gunshot wounds, was found dumped along a road in Grand Rapids. The pair were in a romantic relationship and were arguing at the time of the killing.
In a handwritten complaint filed in federal court, Ortiz-Vite named Trump and White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Steven Cheung as defendants. The lawsuit alleges that Trump's use of his case during the 2024 presidential campaign subjected him to public humiliation and violated his rights. Trump, who made combating illegal immigration a central theme of his campaign, visited Grand Rapids in 2024 and referenced Ortiz-Vite, labeling him «America's problem.» He also featured Ortiz-Vite's mugshot in campaign commercials as an example of what he described as «murderers, rapists, and drug traffickers» residing illegally in the United States.
Ortiz-Vite, who is acting as his own attorney, wrote in the complaint that the intense media coverage and political attention turned his life into a «nightmare.» He claimed that prison staff and other inmates mocked him, and that he was unfairly categorized based on his race and immigration status. «I was put into a category. Who I was as a person no longer mattered! What only mattered was my race,» he wrote. «The shame it brought to my family name is a reality I have to live with now. I took full responsibility for my actions but for them to use my case for political gain on TV was unjust. Humiliating.»
Legal experts have expressed skepticism about the lawsuit's chances of success. Matthew Borgula, a criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, told Fox News Digital that the suit is unlikely to survive initial court screening. «Federal law requires courts to screen prisoner suits before anyone is served. This complaint will likely not survive that screening,» Borgula said. He noted that presidential immunity covers official acts, and while campaign statements may fall outside that scope, the suit fails for more fundamental reasons. «Trump's statements on Ortiz-Vite's case were substantially true, and being publicly embarrassed by a politician isn't a constitutional violation. This case should end before it begins.»
The lawsuit does not cite specific legal violations but instead argues that Trump used Ortiz-Vite's case to criticize the Biden administration's border policies. Ortiz-Vite acknowledged his guilt, writing, «Because I was remorseful for my actions on the 26th, I turned myself in and confessed to the murder of my partner at the time. Knowing the consequences it would bring, I stood tall and was respectful when asked about the actions that took place on the night of March 24th, 2024.» He is seeking $75 million, a public apology, and «naturalization to this beautiful country.»
Ortiz-Vite entered the United States illegally and was initially protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program until his status expired in May 2019, according to. He was deported following a 2020 arrest for driving while intoxicated, though it remains unclear when he re-entered the country illegally. His case drew national attention amid broader debates over immigration enforcement and border security.
Tudor Dixon, a former Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate, criticized the lawsuit as an example of arrogance and entitlement. «As long as we have Democrats jetting to other countries to coddle criminal illegal aliens over margaritas, this level of arrogance and entitlement from convicted murderers will continue,» Dixon told Fox News Digital. «It's time lawmakers stand with the Ruby Garcias of the world instead of her killer.»
Borgula noted that while the plaintiff may feel aggrieved, the legal system offers no remedy for his claims. «He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Once you've done that, absent overturning the conviction, I don't see a legal avenue for collecting damages on a theory that your conviction was unfair,» he said. The White House has not commented on the lawsuit, and Fox News Digital has reached out for a response.
