An incarcerated man serving a life sentence for the 2024 murder of Michigan resident Ruby Garcia has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, alleging his case was exploited for political purposes. The suit, filed by Brandon Ortiz-Vite, 27, demands $75 million, a public apology from Trump, and U.S. citizenship.
Ortiz-Vite is currently serving a sentence of 39 to 102 years for the killing of Garcia, with whom he was in a romantic relationship. Garcia's body was discovered with gunshot wounds along a road in Grand Rapids in March 2024. Ortiz-Vite, who had previously been deported from the U.S., acted as his own attorney in filing the handwritten complaint in federal court, naming Trump and White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Steven Cheung as defendants.
Ortiz-Vite's case gained national attention after Trump highlighted it during a visit to Grand Rapids as part of his campaign focusing on illegal immigration. Trump referred to Ortiz-Vite as "America's problem" and featured his mugshot in campaign commercials to illustrate what he described as "murderers, rapists, and drug traffickers" residing illegally in the U.S.
In his complaint, Ortiz-Vite stated that he was "put into a category" where his race and immigration status mattered more than his identity as a person, leading to humiliation and a "shattered" sense of dignity. He claimed that the use of his case for political gain on television was unjust and that he lived in a "nightmare" due to the intense media scrutiny. He also alleged he was mocked by prison staff and other inmates.
Ortiz-Vite eventually turned himself in and confessed to the murder, stating he was remorseful for his actions. He emphasized that he took responsibility and remained respectful when questioned about the events of that night.
Legal experts suggest the lawsuit is unlikely to succeed. Matthew Borgula, a criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, noted that such suits face screening by courts and that presidential immunity typically covers official acts, though campaign statements can fall outside this protection. Borgula also stated that Trump's remarks were "substantially true" and that being publicly embarrassed by a politician does not constitute a constitutional violation. He believes the case should be dismissed before it proceeds.
Tudor Dixon, a former Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate, characterized the lawsuit as an act of "arrogance and entitlement" from a convicted murderer, urging lawmakers to support victims like Ruby Garcia over those who harm them.
Ortiz-Vite's immigration history includes being under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program until his status expired in May 2019. He was deported following a 2020 arrest for driving while intoxicated, and it is unclear when he re-entered the U.S. illegally. The lawsuit does not cite specific legal violations but rather blames Trump for using his case to criticize the Biden administration's border policies.
Despite the perceived lack of legal merit, the lawsuit offers insight into the experience of becoming a subject in national political discourse. However, legal avenues for Ortiz-Vite to claim damages based on the fairness of his conviction appear limited, particularly since he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.