Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• ICE body camera policy allows agency discretion to withhold footage of officer-involved deaths — ICE announced that every field officer nationwide will have a body camera by the end of September. However, the agency's policy states that video of shootings and encounters where officers cause death or serious injury is released "promptly" only after ICE determines that doing so "is in the best interests of the agency." The ICE director can block or indefinitely delay release if "specific and compelling circumstances" justify withholding. Released footage will have officers' faces, names, and badge numbers redacted. ICE spent $30.9 million on body camera equipment in July, one day after an ICE officer fatally shot a 25-year-old motorist in Maine; days later, another officer shot and killed a Houston homebuilder, neither shooting recorded on body camera.
• ICE adopts body-camera policy with director discretion to withhold footage — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced deployment of body cameras to officers by end of August 2026, following deaths and serious injuries in encounters with immigration agents. However, the policy grants the ICE director authority to restrict public release of footage unless "it is in the best interests of the agency." A review committee including ICE officials and lawyers will determine whether to release video of shootings and serious confrontations, with the director able to indefinitely delay release if "specific and compelling circumstances" justify withholding. The policy was first established in February 2025 but funding was delayed by government shutdown.

Supporting reports

• ICE agent shot and killed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine — Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old father of a 3-year-old girl, was shot and killed by an ICE agent on July 13 in Biddeford, Maine. He was not the target of the operation. The agents involved were not wearing body cameras. The shooting has triggered large community protests across Maine, including over 250 people demonstrating outside the ICE facility in Scarborough.
• ICE shooting death in Biddeford, Maine — An unidentified person was shot and killed in an incident involving ICE near Pool and Hill streets in Biddeford, Maine on the morning of July 13, 2026. Authorities have not released the victim's name, identified who fired the shot, or explained the circumstances. The incident occurred six days after ICE agent shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights documented 52 deaths in ICE custody over 500 days, with mortality rates more than double the previous administration.
• Democratic lawmakers call for investigation into ICE officer shooting and hiring practices in Maine — On 13 July 2026, an ICE officer identified as David Brouillette fatally shot Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian immigrant, in Biddeford, Maine. News reports subsequently revealed allegations that Brouillette had a history of mental health issues and violent, threatening behavior toward his ex-wife. Democratic lawmakers, including House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, called for an investigation into the shooting and a review of ICE hiring practices, criticizing the Trump administration for rapidly hiring 12,000 ICE agents without adequate vetting.
• ICE agents fatally shoot Colombian national in Maine vehicle stop — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents shot and killed Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian national, during a vehicle stop in Biddeford, Maine on July 13, 2026. ICE stated agents were conducting surveillance on an "illegal alien" with a removal order when Durán Guerrero's vehicle attempted to flee; an officer discharged his weapon, striking the driver. Immigrant rights activists reported Durán Guerrero held a valid social security number and work authorization. By July 15, ICE had ordered agents to halt most vehicle stops pending review. The incident marks the 11th fatal shooting by federal immigration officials since Trump's second term began in 2025.
• ICE officer fatally shoots Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine traffic stop — An ICE officer shot and killed Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a Colombian driver, during a traffic stop in Biddeford, Maine on July 13. Durán was not the intended target of the operation. According to immigrant rights activists, Durán was authorized to work in the US and held a social security number. The Department of Homeland Security claimed officers feared for their safety. No body-camera footage exists from the incident. This was the second fatal ICE shooting in six days.
• ICE agent David Brouillette shoots and kills Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine — On July 13, ICE agent David Brouillette shot and killed Joan (or Johan) Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 25, in Biddeford, Maine. Guerrero was not the target of the operation. Brouillette, an Army combat veteran and former security agent, was hired as an ICE agent despite two ex-wives having restraining orders against him for abuse. His ex-wife Ashley Brouillette stated she thought he was "being delusional" when he said he had been hired as an ICE agent. Brouillette was not required to undergo in-person training due to his prior federal law enforcement experience.
• ICE agent shot and killed Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine — At approximately 7:15 a.m., an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. Guerrero was a Colombian national authorized to work in the U.S. with a Social Security number and was en route to work. ICE and DHS did not immediately comment. Representative Chellie Pingree later stated that the man killed was not the person ICE had an order to apprehend. DHS claimed the officer shot out of concern for "public safety" rather than self-defense.
• ICE shooting victim was not the target of the enforcement operation — Representative Chellie Pingree stated this evening that the man ICE shot and killed in Biddeford was not the person they had an order to pick up, indicating a case of mistaken identity in a targeted enforcement operation.
• Ten people shot and killed by federal immigration officers since Trump's second term began — José Olivares of The Guardian reported that Salgado Araujo was the tenth person shot and killed by federal immigration officers from either ICE or Border Patrol since Trump took office a second time. Additionally, twenty-one more people have died in ICE detention this year.
• ICE officer fatally shot Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero without body camera recording — On July 13, 2026, ICE officer fatally shot Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian national legally authorized to work in the United States, in Biddeford, Maine. DHS claimed Durán Guerrero "attempted to flee the scene" and the officer discharged his weapon "fearing for public safety." Durán Guerrero was not the target of the enforcement action. None of the ICE officers involved were wearing body cameras. This was the eighth person killed in federal immigration enforcement actions during the current Trump administration, with body cameras present in only one instance.
• Man struck and killed by vehicle while fleeing ICE enforcement in Florida — A 28-year-old man was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on July 14 in St. Augustine, Florida, while fleeing when ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents confronted a parked car at a gas station. He was one of four people who ran from the vehicle. Authorities have not released his name. The incident occurred the same day the administration directed ICE to pause most vehicle stops nationwide.
• ICE agent shoots and kills man in Biddeford, Maine during vehicle stop — An ICE agent shot and killed a 26-year-old Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine on Monday morning during what DHS claimed was a targeted surveillance operation. The victim was not the target of the arrest operation, according to Maine Senator Angus King. DHS stated the vehicle "attempted to flee" and an officer discharged his weapon "fearing for public safety." The shooting occurred without body cameras present. This marks the 11th person fatally shot by federal immigration officials since Trump's second term began, and the fifth killed while driving a vehicle.
• ICE encounter results in death of Mexican tourist during gas station approach in Florida — Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán, a 28-year-old Mexican national on a valid tourist visa vacationing in Florida, was struck and killed by a semi-truck on July 14 after federal immigration officials, including ICE agents, approached him and others at a gas station. Coronilla ran into traffic while fleeing the encounter. His death is one of four ICE-related fatalities within a week, prompting calls from lawmakers and advocacy groups to restrict ICE operations under the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign.
• ICE officer fatally shoots Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine vehicle stop — An ICE officer shot and killed 26-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine during a vehicle stop. The officer was not wearing a body camera. The shooting occurred less than a week after a similar fatal shooting by ICE in Texas and has prompted calls from communities, lawmakers, and civil liberties groups for an independent investigation into the incident.
• ICE agent shoots and kills Joan Sebastian Guerrero — On July 13, 2026, an ICE agent shot and killed 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. Guerrero, a Colombian national authorized to work in the U.S., was reportedly on his way to work when the incident occurred. The shooting has sparked calls for an investigation and protests outside Senator Susan Collins's office.
• Federal immigration official shoots and kills 26-year-old Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine — On July 14, 2026 (or the preceding Monday), a 26-year-old Colombian man was shot and killed by a federal immigration official in Biddeford, Maine, according to DHS confirmation. This was the second fatal shooting by immigration authorities within one week in July 2026 and part of a broader pattern of at least 11 shooting deaths by federal immigration officials since January 2025.
• ICE officer David Brouillette shot and killed Colombian national Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine — ICE officer David Brouillette shot and killed 25-year-old Colombian national Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero on Monday in Biddeford, Maine, while Guerrero was in his car near his home. According to AP reporting, Brouillette is an Army veteran with a documented history of serious mental health issues since childhood and violent behavior toward women, including threatening voicemails. Relatives stated he should never have been given a badge and gun. At least 10 people have died in encounters with immigration agents since Trump's immigration crackdown began.

Supporting reports

• Congressional investigation found Trump administration misused 250th anniversary celebration — A congressional investigation titled "From Vanity to Insanity: How the WH Cheated the American People Out of Their 250th Birthday" found that Trump staged a hostile takeover of the United States' 250th anniversary celebration to enrich political allies, harvest voter data, and promote Christian nationalist ideology. The report outlined a web of alleged corruption, wire fraud, and pay-to-play schemes orchestrated through a shadow corporation embedded within the National Park Service.
• House Democratic subcommittee releases report alleging Trump administration hijacked US 250th anniversary celebration for corruption, partisan gain, and ideological purposes — A House Democratic natural resources subcommittee released an interim report titled "From Vanity to Insanity" alleging that the Trump administration orchestrated a hostile takeover of the US semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) celebration. The report documents alleged corruption, wire fraud, pay-to-play schemes, and misuse of the National Park Foundation (NPF) through a shadow corporation called Freedom 250. The administration allegedly diverted resources from the non-partisan America250 Foundation, installed campaign operatives on the NPF board, misled donors, steered federal contracts to Trump loyalists, harvested voter data through event registration, and replaced civic programming with Christian nationalist content while erasing historical narratives about slavery and Indigenous removal from national parks.
• House Democrats released report on Freedom 250 corruption allegations — Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee, led by Rep. Jared Huffman, released a report titled "From Vanity to Insanity" accusing Trump's allies of turning the nation's 250th birthday into a "hotbed of corruption and self-enrichment." The report alleges that when the bipartisan America250 commission would not bend to Trump, the White House created a rival group, Freedom 250, and placed it inside the National Park Foundation to avoid transparency rules. The report describes alleged wire fraud (donors directed to Freedom 250 instead of America250), selling presidential access through sponsorship packages, soliciting foreign money, and steering contracts to Trump allies. Freedom 250 denies the allegations.

Supporting reports

• White House East Wing renovation costs balloon to $600 million with taxpayer funding — The Washington Post obtained internal contractor documents showing Trump's White House East Wing renovation, including a new ballroom, underground bunker, and security facilities, has grown from the $200 million Trump promised to an estimated $600 million. More than half is expected to come from taxpayers through the Secret Service, White House Military Office, and Executive Residence. Tens of millions in taxpayer funds were approved before Trump stated in March that "We have no taxpayer putting up 10 cents." The White House responded that Trump and donors are paying for the ballroom itself, ignoring other project costs.
• Trump administration approved tens of millions in taxpayer funds for White House ballroom addition — The Washington Post reported that while Trump assured the public that private donors would pay for a White House ballroom addition, the White House had already approved tens of millions of taxpayer dollars for the contractor building the addition. Internal cost estimates were significantly higher than administration officials had acknowledged in public comments or court filings. Project summaries showed the work was projected to rely heavily on taxpayer dollars from the moment it was announced.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi testified before House Judiciary Committee and refused to answer questions about Epstein co-conspirators — Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee on February 11, 2026. When asked by Congressman Nadler how many of Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirators had been indicted and how many perpetrators were being investigated, Bondi did not answer directly. Instead, she attacked members of Congress throughout the hearing. When Congresswoman Jayapal asked survivors of Epstein's crimes to stand if they had not met with the Department of Justice, all survivors present raised their hands. Jayapal then asked Bondi to turn and apologize to the survivors; Bondi refused to acknowledge them and instead attacked Democrats over past impeachment proceedings.
• Pam Bondi testified before House Judiciary Committee on Epstein files handling — Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee to address her handling of Epstein-related documents and redactions. Her testimony drew intense criticism from Democratic lawmakers and observers who alleged she was covering up information, lying under oath, and that the DOJ had improperly surveilled members of Congress reviewing the files. Multiple representatives and senators called for her impeachment or resignation, citing her conduct as unprofessional and her role in withholding documents and redacting victim information.
• Attorney General Bondi refused to release Epstein files to public as required by law — Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee but refused to release all Epstein files to the public as Congress required when it passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Bondi did not acknowledge survivors of Epstein's sexual assaults and sex trafficking who were present in the audience. When Representative Pramila Jayapal urged her to apologize to survivors for the sloppiness of the release that left many survivors' names, identifying information, and sexually explicit photos unredacted while covering perpetrators' names, Bondi accused Jayapal of theatrics and dragging the hearing "into the gutter."
• Pam Bondi defends DOJ Epstein file handling in heated House judiciary committee hearing — US Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House judiciary committee on Wednesday to defend the Department of Justice's handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats questioned the DOJ's compliance with a law mandating complete release of the files, citing concerns about released survivor names and unexplained redactions of names of potential crime perpetrators. Bondi avoided substantive answers, instead attacking and insulting Democratic questioners, calling one a "washed-up loser lawyer" and refusing to apologize to Epstein victims present in the hearing room.
• DOJ Refuses to Release Epstein Files to Congress — The Department of Justice (DOJ) did not comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee but did not provide satisfactory answers regarding the withheld documents, which has raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the administration.

Supporting reports

• FBI Director Kash Patel launches investigation into Signal group chats used by protesters — FBI Director Kash Patel announced on January 26 that he launched an investigation into Signal group chats used by protesters in Minnesota to share information about federal immigration agents, including their locations and license plate numbers. The move targets legally obtained information and the act of recording law enforcement officials, both protected by the First Amendment.
• Justice Department appeals to Eighth Circuit after judge declines to issue arrest warrants for CNN anchor and protesters — Federal prosecutors sought Chief Judge Schiltz's assistance in arresting former CNN anchor Don Lemon and others linked to an anti-ICE church protest. After Schiltz declined to overturn a magistrate's denial of arrest warrants, the Justice Department appealed directly to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The circuit court rejected the government's request, prompting Schiltz to write letters criticizing the Justice Department's approach and highlighting the flood of "illegal" detention cases overwhelming Minnesota courts.
• FBI director announced investigation of Signal chats of Minneapolis observers — FBI Director Kash Patel told a right-wing podcaster that the FBI will investigate Signal chats of those organized in Minneapolis to observe and record federal agents, to determine if they endangered federal agents. Podcaster Benny Johnson suggested the chats were "coordinated infrastructure" and asked the FBI to "take a crack at trying to get rid of this infrastructure the way they approach the mob or cartels or other terrorist networks."
• TikTok suppresses anti-ICE videos following Oracle acquisition — Following TikTok's acquisition by an Oracle-led consortium in late January 2026, users reported inability to upload videos critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Law professor Stephen Vladeck reported his anti-ICE video remained "under review" for nine hours; comedian Megan Stalter and California State Sen. Scott Wiener also reported suppression. TikTok attributed the issue to a data center outage, but the timing coincided with Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison's known Trump loyalty, raising concerns about state influence over the platform's content moderation.
• Federal agents arrested journalist Don Lemon on FACE Act and civil rights conspiracy charges — More than two dozen federal agents arrested independent journalist Don Lemon late on January 29, charging him with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiring to hurt the exercise of rights—a Reconstruction-era law originally used against the Ku Klux Klan. Lemon had filmed protesters disrupting a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18 at a white nationalist church with ties to the Trump administration. A magistrate judge and federal judge had both refused to issue warrants; the administration then sought indictment via federal grand jury. Lemon stated he would plead not guilty and continue his journalism.
• Federal agents arrest Don Lemon and three journalists — On January 29, federal agents arrested Don Lemon and three other journalists in relation to their coverage of an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul, Minnesota church. Lemon has been charged with conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and violating the FACE Act by allegedly obstructing access to a house of worship. The arrests come one week after a federal magistrate judge rejected the Justice Department's initial request to bring charges. Lemon's lawyer Abbe Lowell called the move an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment" and a "transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration."
• Federal magistrate and district judge refused to issue arrest warrants for Don Lemon — A federal magistrate judge refused to issue a warrant for Don Lemon and his producer, stating prosecutors had not shown evidence justifying arrest. When the administration asked a federal judge to overturn that decision, the judge also refused, calling the request "unprecedented." The administration then escalated the case to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which also refused to intervene.
• DOJ charges Don Lemon and three others with civil rights crimes related to Minnesota church protest — The Department of Justice charged former CNN anchor Don Lemon and three others with federal civil rights crimes, alleging they interfered with religious freedom at a church in Minnesota earlier in January. Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday while covering the Grammy Awards and released Friday. The charges also invoked the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. A federal magistrate judge had previously declined to sign an arrest warrant for Lemon, but the DOJ proceeded with charges anyway. The White House celebrated the arrest on social media.
• Don Lemon arrested on charges connected to Minnesota church protest — Ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon, 59, was arrested on charges related to a Minnesota church protest. Lemon, who was terminated by CNN in 2023 following allegations of problematic behavior toward female colleagues and controversial on-air remarks, has since worked as an independent journalist on YouTube. The arrest marks a significant development in his career trajectory following his departure from mainstream media.
• Federal agents arrest journalist Georgia Fort for covering ICE protest at Minnesota church — Georgia Fort, an independent Minnesota journalist, was arrested at her home on January 30 after covering a January 18 protest at St. Paul's Cities church, where a pastor reportedly works for ICE. Fort was charged alongside Don Lemon under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) and conspiracy statutes—charges experts call unprecedented against journalists. The DOJ pursued the case aggressively after a federal judge and appeals court initially refused to charge the journalists; a grand jury eventually secured an indictment. Fort livestreamed her arrest and has since been unable to cover related stories due to legal and safety concerns.
• Federal agents conduct search of Fort's home and question her children — When federal agents arrested Georgia Fort at her home on January 30, approximately two dozen agents remained outside for hours after her arrest. As Fort's family attempted to leave, agents stopped them in the driveway and questioned her children about whether they possessed her laptop or cellphone. Fort's daughters, aged 17, 8, and 7, were terrified by the encounter. The youngest daughter now discusses ICE daily; the oldest has experienced nightmares. Fort stated agents could have waited until children left for school and questioned why so many agents were needed to arrest a journalist.
• Journalist Don Lemon arrested by Trump administration after covering anti-ICE protest — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested on January 30, 2026, by federal agents at a Los Angeles hotel while covering the Grammy Awards. The Trump administration obtained a federal grand jury indictment against Lemon, independent journalist Georgia Fort, and others on charges of conspiracy and interfering with worshippers' constitutional rights during an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church on January 18. A federal magistrate judge had previously refused to sign an arrest warrant for Lemon. On February 8, Lemon spoke publicly about the arrest, characterizing it as an attack on press freedom and warning that democracy becomes "hollow" when the First Amendment is threatened.
• Federal agents arrested journalist Georgia Fort and two protest participants — Federal agents arrested independent journalist Georgia Fort of Minnesota, along with two protest participants, Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the January 18 church protest in St. Paul. All four people arrested in the past 24 hours are Black.
• Don Lemon arrested on federal civil rights charges — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal authorities and charged with federal civil rights crimes in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church service earlier in January. The Department of Homeland Security stated Lemon was charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers. His attorney Abbe Lowell stated Lemon's "constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done" and characterized the arrest as "an unprecedented attack on the first amendment." Career DOJ prosecutors in Minnesota and Louisiana refused to be involved in charging Lemon and other journalists who covered the Minneapolis church protests, believing the evidence does not support the charges.

Supporting reports

• White House announced construction of 90,000-square-foot event space at White House — The Trump administration announced plans to construct a 90,000-square-foot ballroom and event space on the White House complex, replacing the East Wing. Groundbreaking is scheduled for September 2025. The project, estimated to cost approximately $200 million, will be funded by Trump and private donors. The administration stated that presidents and staff have sought such a space for 150 years, though the selection of architects and design process is unclear.
• White House announced $200 million ballroom construction project — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that construction of a new White House ballroom will begin. The project will add 90,000 square feet to the White House complex at a cost of $200 million. Leavitt stated that presidents and administrations have "longed for" such a large event space for 150 years.
• Trump announces $200 million ballroom construction at White House — Donald Trump announced plans to construct a new $200 million, 90,000 square-foot ballroom at the White House, to be completed before his term ends in early 2029. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the facility will seat up to 650 people. Trump cited the current 200-person capacity of the East Room and weather-related logistical challenges with tent events on the South Lawn as justification. Funding will come from Trump and "patriot donors." McCrery Architects, Clark Construction, and AECOM have been selected for design and construction. The ballroom will replace the current East Wing and represents the first structural addition to the executive mansion since the Truman Balcony in 1948.

Supporting reports

• Florida opens Everglades immigration detention center with inhumane conditions — Florida officials opened a hastily-constructed immigration detention center in the Everglades, converted from a rarely-used airport in eight days. Within one week of opening, detainees reported lack of running water, scarce food, maggots in meals, giant insects, medication deprivation, and extreme temperature fluctuations. Immigration attorneys reported being denied access to clients and confidential phone calls. The facility, designed to hold detainees in chain-link cells with tent coverings, costs an estimated $450 million annually to operate and may not withstand hurricanes common to the region.