Former President Donald Trump recently used the tragic death of a Grand Rapids woman, Ruby Garcia, to fuel his anti-immigration rhetoric during campaign events in Michigan and Wisconsin. Garcia was found dead on the side of a Grand Rapids highway, allegedly killed by her romantic partner Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a citizen of Mexico. Trump attempted to tie Garcia’s death to Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student, who was also killed by a man who entered the U.S. illegally. While authorities believe Riley’s death was random, Garcia’s case is different as it was a result of domestic violence.
Ortiz-Vite has been charged with multiple offenses related to Garcia’s murder, including carjacking and felony firearm possession. The case initially received minimal attention until conservative media outlets labeled Ortiz-Vite as an “illegal immigrant.” Trump inaccurately claimed that Ortiz-Vite had been thrown out of the country by his administration, and then allowed back in by President Joe Biden, leading to Garcia’s death. However, immigration officials have confirmed that they do not know when Ortiz-Vite reentered the U.S. without inspection.
At a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Trump claimed that Garcia’s death was a direct result of Biden’s border policies, criticizing the president for allowing criminals like Ortiz-Vite to remain in the country. Trump also mentioned other crimes committed by immigrants, including the death of Leah Marie Gomez, and robberies in Oakland County homes. While Republicans have tried to link these crimes to a concerning trend, statistics show a decline in overall violent crime in the U.S. Many studies have also found that immigrants are less likely to commit violent crimes than native-born citizens.
Democrats have pointed to a bipartisan compromise on border security that Trump helped derail by encouraging House Republicans to oppose it. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer criticized Trump for prioritizing political points over the safety and security of the people. Trump’s continuation of inflammatory rhetoric on immigration has sparked debates around the issue, with both parties highlighting different aspects of the complex situation. The tragic death of Ruby Garcia has become a focal point in the ongoing discussion of immigration policies and border security in the United States.
