At a rally in Michigan, Donald Trump mentioned Ruby Garcia, a 25-year-old who was tragically killed last month, claiming he had spoken with her family.
Mavi Garcia, Ruby’s sister, was taken aback by this assertion, stating to NBC affiliate Target 8 that no such conversation took place. She expressed her shock and disappointment at Trump’s misleading statement on live TV, emphasizing that he had not contacted any family members.
The incident Trump referenced involved Ruby Garcia, who was allegedly killed by Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a man she was dating. According to police reports, Ortiz-Vite confessed to shooting Garcia multiple times during an argument before abandoning her body by the roadside and fleeing in her car. Her body was discovered on the side of a highway in Grand Rapids on March 22.
During his speech, Trump used the tragic event as a focal point for a broader argument against illegal immigration, inaccurately stating Ruby’s age as 17 and painting a grim picture of the consequences of open borders.
He went as far as labeling immigrants in the country illegally as “animals” and “not human,” language that has become a hallmark of his rhetoric on the campaign trail.
This stance on immigration has been a consistent theme for Trump and other Republicans, who highlight crimes committed by individuals in the country illegally despite a backdrop of increasing border crossings.
Mavi Garcia criticized the narrow focus on crimes committed by illegal immigrants, pointing out the omission of crimes committed by Americans. She expressed frustration at the politicization of her sister’s story, especially in the context of Trump’s speech, which generalized and vilified immigrants.
She has publicly requested privacy and respect, emphasizing her desire for justice for her sister and for the family’s grief to be acknowledged without becoming a political talking point.
As the family mourns the loss of Ruby, Mavi Garcia’s statements reflect a plea for compassion and understanding, countering attempts to use her sister’s death as ammunition in the ongoing debate over immigration policy.