Mark Thomsen Represents Morales Family in $5.5M Claim Against ICE

Our attorneys, Mark Thomsen, Bob Gingras and Peter Kelly-Smith, are proudly representing the family of Ramón Morales Reyes in a high-profile federal tort claim against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case recently gained significant media attention after the ffederal government falsely accused Morales Reyes of threatening the president and refused to fully retract their statements.

Case Highlights

The False Accusation: On May 28, 2025, DHS publicly and falsely branded him as an attempted assassin and posted his mugshot online, triggering a wave of severe harassment against him and his family.
The Frame-Up: State investigators (with federal agents in the know) had quickly learned Morales Reyes does not read or speak English and revealed he was framed by a man who had previously stabbed him, in an attempt to have Morales Reyes deported so the criminal case against his attacker would be dismissed. The true author of the confessed. DHS nonetheless released the false press release and has never apologized.
Seeking Justice: Despite knowing the truth, the government has left the damaging webpage up. GTWlawyers.com, alongside co-counsel, recently filed a $5.5 million claim for intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, seeking damages to help the family rebuild their lives.

During a recent press conference organized by Voces de la Frontera, Mark Thomsen emphasized our firm’s dedication to standing up to immense government power:

“They knew it was a lie when they said it… These are two young people with the courage to stand up to the biggest government on the planet, the most powerful government on the planet, and say, ‘Do the right thing, America.'”

Mark added that the legal team is simply asking the federal government to do the right thing, noting: “They wanted to crush Ramon and his family as human beings.'”

Mark added that the legal team is simply asking the federal government to do the right thing, noting: “They wanted to crush Ramon and his family as human beings.”

Read the full coverage of the case and our ongoing pursuit of justice here: Family Sues ICE, Charging It Falsely Claimed Father Threatened President.

September 8, 2026/by Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP

Civil Rights

UPDATE [VIDEO]: Mark Thomsen Speaks at Milwaukee Bucks & Sacramento Kings “Team Up for Change” Event

“As Sterling Brown said, I want to be a voice for the voiceless,” said Sterling Brown’s attorney, Mark Thomsen.

“Every movement, and this is a movement around the country, needs people like these two that will take the resources and use it for events like today, that can make a real difference.” – Mark Thomsen

via nba.com

On February 27th, GCW attorney Mark Thomsen, known for his representation of Milwaukee Bucks guard, Mr. Sterling Brown, will be speaking at the NBA event “Team Up for Change” event in Sacramento, California. He will be joined by community members, NBA owners and executives during this daylong summit to bring attention to social injustice.

“I am extremely honored to attend and speak at the Team Up for Change event,” said, Thomsen. “Working with organizations like the Milwaukee Bucks and the Sacramento Kings to drive awareness of civil rights issues can only help foster change in both of our cities, and across the country.”

The Sacramento Kings are joining forces with the Milwaukee Bucks and leading this event to serve as a model for community action against injustice, an effort supported by our Milwaukee law firm handling personal injury cases.

March 4, 2019/by Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP

Civil Rights

Milwaukee Pastors Sue Waukesha County for Alleged Racial Profiling

Image via wbur.org

Two Milwaukee pastors, Demetrius Williams and John Patterson, have filed a federal lawsuit against Waukesha County for being allegedly racially profiled last May.

Williams and Patterson were on their way home from fishing in Rock County around noon in May of last year. They had pulled onto the shoulder of I-94 in Brookfield due to a flat tire on the boat trailer they were towing when a Waukesha deputy pulled up. Without asking if the men needed assistance, the deputies questioned Williams and Patterson about guns and drugs before demanding their licenses to check for arrest warrants.

“Had Plaintiffs been white this would not have happened,” the federal lawsuit alleges.

In August, a faith-based community action group, Common Ground, held a news conference to tell the pastor’s story, and ask if other drivers had these types of experiences with Waukesha County sheriff’s deputies. Another news conference was held Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at Community Baptist Church in Sherman park to announce the lawsuit.

“We want to let people know we don’t just have to take this treatment. We can push back and use the law to do it,” said Rev. John Patterson.

Williams and Patterson are represented by GCW civil rights attorney, Mark Thomsen, who is part of our Milwaukee injury law representation. The lawsuit states that white deputies Erik Michalsen, and Michael Powell violated their Fourth Amendment rights to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures, as well as their 14th Amendment right to equal protection under the law.

The men seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for “emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-pecuniary losses.” Thomsen said his clients also seek an admission that the deputies were “not only legally but morally wrong.”

View Full Complaint

January 9, 2019/by Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP