Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a 27-year-old Mexican national, has filed a lawsuit against former US President Donald Trump after being convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Ruby Garcia, in March 2024.

Ortiz-Vite, who entered the US illegally as a child and was granted temporary residency under the DACA program, pleaded guilty to the crime and received a 39-to-100-year prison sentence.

Following the murder, Trump held a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he labeled Ortiz-Vite as 'America's problem' and used his mugshot in campaign ads.The lawsuit seeks $75.

5 million in punitive damages, a public apology, and US citizenship, with Ortiz-Vite claiming the publicity caused severe emotional distress and forced him to accept a plea deal.Legal experts argue the case is unlikely to succeed due to presidential immunity and the lack of constitutional violations.

Ortiz-Vite, currently incarcerated, represents himself in the case, which highlights tensions between immigration policy, criminal justice, and political rhetoric.

The incident underscores the complex intersection of personal accountability, legal consequences, and public perception in high-profile cases involving immigration status.