In a case that drew national attention, a Mexican national who is in the U.S. illegally was sentenced to 39 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Ruby Garcia. The case became a point of contention in the U.S. presidential race due to the man’s immigration status.
Brandon Ortiz Vite, 26, pleaded guilty to the murder of Ruby Garcia, who was tragically found shot to death along a highway in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The crime occurred on March 22, when Ortiz Vite and Garcia were in a car on U.S. 131. The couple was reportedly arguing about their relationship when Ortiz Vite shot Garcia in the head. He then removed her body from the car and drove away.
At his sentencing, Ortiz Vite expressed remorse for his actions. “The actions I took on the night of March 22 do not define who my people are. I apologize with the utmost respect to all immigrants from all walks of life,” he told the judge.
Judge Mark Trusock was firm in his condemnation of the crime, calling Ortiz Vite a “cold-blooded murderer” and stating, “This is an intentional crime, and you are a danger to society.” Ortiz Vite admitted that he had been under the influence of drugs that night and acknowledged that he knew his actions were wrong.
Ortiz Vite’s immigration status became a key talking point in the U.S. presidential race, particularly when former President Donald Trump accused the Biden administration of failing to prevent Ortiz Vite from returning to the U.S. after he was deported in 2020. While it remains unclear if he re-entered the country under the Trump or Biden administration, the case sparked renewed debate over U.S. immigration policy.
Ortiz Vite was sentenced to 39 years in prison for his crime, and his case has added fuel to ongoing national discussions about immigration and the safety of U.S. citizens.