A Mexican national convicted of murder has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, seeking $75.5 million, a public apology, and U.S. citizenship. Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 27, who is serving a prison sentence for the March 2024 killing of his girlfriend Ruby Garcia, alleges that Trump's public statements and use of his case in campaign materials caused him severe emotional distress.
Ortiz-Vite pleaded guilty to shooting Garcia, 25, multiple times in the head and abandoning her body on a Grand Rapids highway. Following the incident, Trump, whose campaign platform has heavily emphasized immigration enforcement, referred to Ortiz-Vite as "America's problem" during a rally in the same city. Ortiz-Vite's mugshot was also reportedly used in campaign advertisements.
In his lawsuit, filed from prison, Ortiz-Vite claims that the publicity surrounding his case, particularly Trump's commentary, amplified his situation beyond what he believed was proportionate. He asserts that the attention led him to feel pigeonholed by his race and immigration status, overshadowing his personal identity and contributing to immense emotional anguish.
"Who I was as a person no longer mattered! What only mattered was my race... My case and immigration status!" Ortiz-Vite wrote in the court filing, according to reports. "Once again, it belittled me, shattered my dignity and what I was as a person."
He further contends that the media attention and political spotlight made him a target for other inmates while incarcerated and brought shame upon his family. Ortiz-Vite alleges that this intense scrutiny pressured him into accepting a plea deal, as he felt his case was being exploited for political gain.
Ortiz-Vite entered the U.S. illegally as a child and was granted status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has since expired. He remained in the country after his DACA status lapsed and was deported in 2020 following a drunk driving arrest.
Legal experts suggest the lawsuit faces significant challenges. Former federal prosecutor Matthew Borgula told Fox News that federal law requires prisoner lawsuits to undergo a screening process that this complaint is unlikely to survive. Borgula also noted that while presidential immunity can cover official acts, campaign statements may fall outside this protection, but the suit's more fundamental issues likely preclude it from proceeding.
"Being publicly embarrassed by a politician isn't a constitutional violation," Borgula stated. "This case should end before it begins."
Ortiz-Vite is representing himself in the legal action. The White House has not yet commented on the lawsuit.