A convicted murderer serving decades in prison for the 2024 killing of a Michigan woman has filed a federal lawsuit against President Donald Trump, claiming the president used his case for political gain during the 2024 campaign and seeking $75 million in damages, a public apology and American citizenship.
Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 27, who had previously been deported from the United States before returning illegally, is serving a prison sentence of 39 to 102 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Ruby Garcia.
Murder Case Became Campaign Issue
Garcia’s body was found alongside a road in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in March 2024 after she was fatally shot multiple times. Authorities said Ortiz-Vite and Garcia, who were romantically involved, had been arguing before the killing.
The case drew national attention during the 2024 presidential campaign when Trump visited Grand Rapids and highlighted Garcia’s death while criticizing the Biden administration’s immigration policies.
During the event, Trump referred to Ortiz-Vite as “America’s problem” and cited the case as an example of crimes committed by people living in the United States illegally. Ortiz-Vite’s mugshot was also featured in campaign advertisements discussing illegal immigration.
Lawsuit Claims Public Humiliation
In a handwritten complaint filed in federal court, Ortiz-Vite named Trump and White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Steven Cheung as defendants.
Representing himself, Ortiz-Vite argued that his case was unfairly turned into a political talking point and said the publicity subjected him to ridicule from prison staff and fellow inmates.
“I was put into a category. Who I was as a person no longer mattered! What only mattered was my race,” Ortiz-Vite wrote.
“My case and immigration status! Once again, it belittled me, shattered my dignity and what I was as a person.”
He also claimed the national attention brought shame to his family.
“The shame it brought to my family name is a reality I have to live with now,” he wrote.
Ortiz-Vite acknowledged responsibility for Garcia’s death but argued that using his case during the campaign was unjust.
“I took full responsibility for my actions but for them to use my case for political gain on TV was unjust. Humiliating,” he wrote. “I was center stage in front of a nation, public scrutiny at its finest!”
Says Publicity Turned His Life Into a “Nightmare”
Ortiz-Vite said he first realized the scope of the media attention after meeting with his court-appointed attorneys.
“They explained how my case had now gotten blown out of proportion and was now a high-profile case,” he wrote.
“The shock in their eyes and the tears from mine were a reaction to my realization that I was living everyone’s worst nightmare!”
He added that he felt he had become “publicly infamous” and described experiencing overwhelming anxiety and despair as a result of the publicity.
Seeks Citizenship Along With Monetary Damages
In addition to requesting $75 million in damages and a public apology, Ortiz-Vite also asked the court to grant him “naturalization to this beautiful country.”
The complaint does not identify specific legal violations allegedly committed by Trump or Cheung, instead arguing that the president improperly used his criminal case to criticize the Biden administration’s border policies.
Ortiz-Vite also reiterated that he voluntarily surrendered to police and confessed following the killing.
“Because I was remorseful for my actions… I turned myself in and confessed to the murder of my partner at the time,” he wrote.
Legal Expert Says Suit Is Unlikely to Succeed
Matthew Borgula, a criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, said the lawsuit faces significant legal hurdles and is unlikely to survive initial judicial review.
“Federal law requires courts to screen prisoner suits before anyone is served. This complaint will likely not survive that screening,” Borgula told Fox News Digital.
He also noted that the president’s statements were largely based on publicly known facts of the case.
“Trump’s statements… were substantially true, and being publicly embarrassed by a politician isn’t a constitutional violation,” Borgula said. “This case should end before it begins.”
Borgula added that because Ortiz-Vite pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, he does not see a viable legal path for recovering damages based on the publicity surrounding the case.
Immigration History
According to MLive.com, Ortiz-Vite entered the United States illegally and later received protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. His DACA status expired in May 2019.
He was deported following a 2020 arrest for driving while intoxicated. Authorities have not publicly disclosed when or how he re-entered the United States before Garcia’s murder.
Former Michigan Republican gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon also criticized the lawsuit, arguing it reflected misplaced priorities.
“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.”
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