Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Complaint and TRO motion filed in Mytych v. Griess (D.D.C.) — David Mytych, a member of Accountability NOW USA, filed a complaint and motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the National Park Service's denial of his permit to hold a counter-demonstration within sight and sound of the Freedom 250: Salute to America event on the National Mall on July 4, 2026. NPS offered McPherson Square and Indiana Plaza as alternate demonstration sites, which Mytych alleges are more than half a mile from the event and do not provide meaningful access to his intended audience. Mytych alleges the denial violates the First Amendment's speech and assembly protections, constitutes viewpoint discrimination and retaliation based on his anti-Trump message, and is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.

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• U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez imposed restrictions on ICE's tactics in response to protesters' lawsuits, but the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals quickly stayed her decision at the Trump administration's request. — U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez, overseeing lawsuits by protesters contesting illegal arrests and retaliation by ICE officers, imposed restrictions on ICE's ability to use pepper spray and other munitions against demonstrators. However, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals quickly granted a Trump administration request to stay her decision, a move that led to public celebration from top DOJ and DHS officials. Attorneys for protesters subsequently urged the federal appeals court to reinstate the restrictions, arguing that expected further protests in response to Pretti's death create "an urgent need for intervention."
• Federal appeals court allows tear gas and pepper spray against Minnesota protesters — A federal appeals court decision paved the way for federal officers to continue using tear gas and pepper spray against peaceful protesters in Minnesota. Following the ruling, a senior U.S. Border Patrol official, Greg Bovino, used tear gas against protesters in Minneapolis.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Tincher v. Noem (D. Minn.) 0:25-cv-04669 — The Eighth Circuit stayed the lower court's preliminary injunction restricting ICE officers' actions during protests and denied Plaintiffs' emergency motion to lift the administrative stay, finding that the injunction was overbroad and vague. The panel granted Plaintiffs' request for expedited merits briefing.

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• Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals lifts injunction blocking ICE pepper-spray and arrest of peaceful protesters in Minnesota — The Eighth US Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Trump administration's request for an administrative stay of a preliminary injunction issued by Judge Katherine Menendez on January 17, 2026. Menendez had prohibited ICE agents from pepper-spraying, arresting, or detaining peaceful protesters, and from stopping or detaining drivers without reasonable cause, ruling that ICE's actions had a "chilling effect" on First Amendment rights. The appeals court's temporary lifting of these restrictions came as Vice President JD Vance prepared to visit Minneapolis.
• Federal appeals court allows continued use of tear gas and pepper spray against protesters — A federal appeals court decision paved the way for federal officers to continue using tear gas and pepper spray against peaceful protesters in Minnesota. Following the ruling, a senior U.S. Border Patrol official threw tear gas at protesters in Minneapolis.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Tincher v. Noem (D. Minn.) 0:25-cv-04669 — The Eighth Circuit issued an administrative stay of Judge Menendez's preliminary injunction, temporarily lifting the restrictions on ICE's use of force against protesters.

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• Federal judge orders ICE to cease pepper spray use against Minneapolis protesters — U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez issued an order on Friday directing federal law enforcement to stop using pepper spray against peaceful protesters in Minneapolis. The judge found that ICE agents had deployed "chemical irritants" against demonstrators exercising "protected first amendment rights to assemble and to observe and protest ICE operations." The ruling came amid escalating tensions surrounding Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's intensive immigration enforcement operation in the city.

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• Judge Ellis restricts federal agents' use of force in northern Illinois — US District Judge Sara Ellis issued a preliminary injunction restricting federal agents' use of force against protesters and journalists in northern Illinois who do not pose a serious threat. The order prohibits pepper balls, rubber bullets, and physical force such as pulling, shoving, or tackling. Ellis also required federal agents to wear visible identification such as badges, addressing concerns about masked plainclothes officers conducting immigration enforcement operations.
• U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis issues temporary restraining order protecting journalists from federal agents — U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis granted a two-week temporary restraining order prohibiting federal agents from dispersing, arresting, threatening to arrest, or using physical force against journalists in Chicago, unless the agents have probable cause to believe the individual has committed a crime. The order was issued in response to federal agents targeting journalists in Chicago.
• U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis issues temporary restraining order protecting journalists from federal agents in Chicago — U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis granted a two-week temporary restraining order prohibiting federal agents in Chicago from dispersing, arresting, threatening, or using physical force against journalists unless probable cause exists that they have committed a crime. The order followed reports of federal agents targeting journalists in the city.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Chicago Headline Club v. Noem (N.D. Ill.) 1:25-cv-12173 — District Court Judge Ellis issued a temporary restraining order granting plaintiffs' motion and blocking the Trump administration from using force against journalists or ordering crowd dispersal orders unless justified by exigent circumstances in the Chicago area. The order prohibits federal agents from arresting, threatening, or using force against any person they “reasonably should know is a Journalist” without probable cause, using riot control weapons unless necessary to stop an “immediate and serious threat,” and seizing or arresting any non-violent protester without probable cause. The court's ruling enjoins federal agents from this conduct for 14 days (until Oct. 23, 2025).
• Federal judge issues temporary restraining order on protest suppression tactics — A federal judge in Chicago issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday restricting federal agents from using forceful tactics to suppress protests or impede journalists from covering those protests. The order prohibits federal officials from arresting, threatening arrest, or deploying physical force against journalists unless probable cause exists that they have committed a crime. The order came days after prosecutors dropped charges against anti-ICE protesters accused of assaulting federal agents.

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• Federal judge allows Texas National Guard deployment to Chicago to proceed while Illinois lawsuit pending — U.S. District Judge April Perry declined to immediately block the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Chicago in response to a lawsuit filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul against the Trump administration. The judge allowed the federal government to continue the deployment while it responds to Illinois's suit, setting a midnight Wednesday deadline for the government's reply. Texas Guard members departed Fort Bliss on Monday evening; Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated the administration had not consulted him and called it "Trump's invasion."
• Federal judge declines to block National Guard deployment to Chicago — U.S. District Judge April Perry declined to immediately block Texas National Guard troops from entering Chicago on October 7, 2025, despite a pending lawsuit filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the city of Chicago seeking to stop the deployment. The judge's refusal to grant an injunction allowed the Trump administration to proceed with mobilizing troops to the city.
• Federal judge holds hearing on legality of Chicago national guard deployment — U.S. District Judge April Perry held a hearing in downtown Chicago on the constitutionality of the national guard deployment after Illinois and Chicago officials filed to declare it illegal. State and city attorneys argued the deployment violates the Constitution and represents a "constitutional crisis," while a Department of Justice lawyer defended it as necessary due to "tragic lawlessness." The hearing drew heavy public turnout requiring an overflow room.
• Judge Ellis restricts federal agents' use of force in northern Illinois — US District Judge Sara Ellis issued a preliminary injunction restricting federal agents' use of force against protesters and journalists in northern Illinois who do not pose a serious threat. The order prohibits pepper balls, rubber bullets, and physical force such as pulling, shoving, or tackling. Ellis also required federal agents to wear visible identification such as badges, addressing concerns about masked plainclothes officers conducting immigration enforcement operations.
• Judge Perry temporarily blocks Trump's national guard deployment in Chicago — US District Judge April Perry issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from federalizing or deploying the national guard in Illinois. The order, effective Thursday and lasting two weeks, came after the state of Illinois sued over Trump's directive to send hundreds of troops to Chicago for immigration enforcement and crime reduction. Perry found no credible evidence of rebellion in Illinois and criticized the Department of Homeland Security's characterization of events as "simply unreliable." The White House stated it would appeal.
• U.S. District Judge April M. Perry blocks federal National Guard deployment in Chicago for two weeks — U.S. District Judge April M. Perry issued a temporary restraining order halting the federal deployment of 200 National Guard troops from Texas and 300 from Illinois in and around Chicago for two weeks. Perry stated: "I have found no credible evidence that there is a danger of rebellion in the state of Illinois." She cited grand jury refusals to indict protesters accused of assaulting law enforcement and questioned the Department of Homeland Security's credibility and assessment of conditions in Chicago.
• Grand juries refuse to indict Chicago protesters accused of assaulting law enforcement — Grand juries in Chicago, including one on Tuesday night, refused to indict protesters accused of assaulting law enforcement. Judge Perry cited these refusals in her decision to block the federal National Guard deployment, stating they cast doubt on the Department of Homeland Security's credibility and assessment of conditions in Chicago. The grand jury refusals suggest local juries do not view the alleged assaults as warranting criminal charges.

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• Journalists and protesters sue Trump administration for pattern of brutality in Chicago — Journalists and protesters in the Chicago area filed a lawsuit on October 6, 2025, against the Trump administration alleging a "pattern of extreme brutality" designed to "silence the press and civilians." The suit targeted federal officers' use of force against journalists, peaceful protesters, and religious leaders. On October 9, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) restricting federal officers' use of flash-bang grenades, tear gas, pepper spray, and other "less-lethal" weapons and tactics. On October 16, after videos emerged of agents throwing tear gas canisters into crowds and charging protesters, Ellis required officers to wear body cameras.
• Coalition of Chicago journalists and organizations sued Trump administration — A coalition of Chicago journalists, non-profit organizations, and unions sued the Trump administration, arguing that federal agents have engaged in a "pattern of extreme brutality" at local protests to "intimidate and silence the press and civilians." The filing notes, "Never in modern times has the federal government undermined bedrock constitutional protections on this scale or usurped states' police power by directing federal agents to carry out an illegal mission against the people for the government's own benefit."

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• DOJ sues pro-Palestinian activists under FACE Act — The Trump administration's Justice Department filed a civil rights lawsuit on September 29, 2025, against pro-Palestinian advocacy groups and six activists, alleging they violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act during a November 2024 protest at a New Jersey synagogue. The lawsuit marks the first federal use of the FACE Act—traditionally used to protect abortion clinics—to protect a place of worship. The DOJ seeks fines exceeding $30,000 for the first violation and $50,000 for each subsequent violation.
• Justice Department files civil complaint under FACE Act against alleged violent protestors at New Jersey synagogue — The Department of Justice, through its Civil Rights Division, filed a civil complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against entities and individuals alleged to have engaged in threats of force, intimidation, and violent conduct directed at congregants of Congregation Ohr Torah synagogue in West Orange during a November 2024 protest. The complaint alleges the defendants' actions were intended to interfere with the synagogue community's right to freely exercise their religion. The department seeks injunctive relief to prevent future violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act at synagogues throughout New Jersey.

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• Georgia judge dismisses RICO conspiracy charges against 61 Cop City protesters — Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer dismissed RICO conspiracy charges against 61 defendants arrested during protests against Atlanta's police training center ("Cop City") on March 5, 2023. The judge ruled that Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr lacked authority to bring the case after local district attorneys declined prosecution, and that Carr had not obtained required permission from Governor Brian Kemp. The decision eliminates 100 pages of the state's 109-page indictment and exposes prosecutorial misconduct, including violation of attorney-client privilege by lead prosecutor John Fowler. The state announced its intention to appeal.