Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• ICE targets immigrant truck drivers with English proficiency enforcement and commercial driving school closures — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified enforcement against immigrant truck drivers, removing an estimated 9,500 drivers from roads for failing English language proficiency requirements. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the closure of 550 commercial driving schools and mandated that commercial driving license tests be conducted in English as of February 20, 2026. The crackdown has disrupted freight operations across the Midwest, increased shipping costs, and forced immigrant-owned trucking businesses to close or pivot to other industries.

Supporting reports

• ICE releases teenage mariachi musicians from detention after bipartisan backlash — Two teenage brothers, Antonio (18) and Caleb (14) Gámez-Cuéllar, were released from ICE custody on March 10 after their detention sparked widespread outcry. The family—parents Luis and Emma, plus younger brother Joshua (12)—had been detained on February 25 after reporting to an ICE appointment, despite having been granted asylum, attending all court dates, and performing at the U.S. Capitol at their congresswoman's invitation. Their release followed pressure from Democratic and Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX).

Supporting reports

• Trump administration ends Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals despite humanitarian crisis — The Trump administration is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 2,500 Somali nationals in the U.S., effective March 17, 2026. Many have lived in the country for 36–37 years. The termination occurs amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Somalia: the World Food Programme may end emergency food aid due to lack of UN funding, over 6.5 million people face acute hunger, the World Bank ranks Somalia among the world's poorest nations, and the U.S. State Department maintains a "do not travel" warning due to terrorism and civil unrest, including al-Shabaab control of southern regions.

Supporting reports

• DHS reduced Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties staff from 147 to under 40 — According to The Guardian's review of court records, the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) was reduced from 147 full-time employees to fewer than 40. The office received nearly 6,000 complaints between late March and December 12, 2025, but approximately only 183 of those complaints were directly investigated. DHS described the oversight offices as "internal adversaries that slow down operations" when justifying the cuts. The office is responsible for investigating complaints of abuse and misconduct within immigration detention facilities and other DHS operations.
• DHS reduced Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman from 118 to 5 staff — According to The Guardian's review of court records, the DHS Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman was reduced from 118 staff members to five. This office was created by Congress to provide internal reviews and investigate complaints related to immigration enforcement and detention conditions. The office was responsible for investigating abuse allegations in immigration detention facilities, including cases involving children and pregnant women. One former employee described how detainees learned to recognize help by looking for the hummingbird logo on tablets carried by caseworkers from this office.
• DHS oversight offices drastically reduced — Court records revealed that key Department of Homeland Security oversight offices designed to investigate abuse and protect civil rights were drastically reduced. These offices serve as internal watchdogs for DHS enforcement and civil-rights compliance.

Supporting reports

• Senator Jon Ossoff's office identified 510 credible reports of human rights abuse in immigration custody — A monthslong investigation by Senator Jon Ossoff's office identified 510 credible reports of human rights abuse against people in immigration custody, including 41 allegations of physical or sexual abuse, 18 alleged reports of mistreatment of children (both U.S. citizens and noncitizens), and 14 alleged reports of mistreatment of pregnant women. Specific cases included an 11-year-old U.S. citizen girl recovering from a rare brain tumor denied medical care in deplorable conditions, and a 4-year-old U.S. citizen boy with stage 4 cancer deported to Honduras without access to his medicines. These findings emerged as DHS oversight offices were being drastically reduced.

Supporting reports

• Spanish-language journalist detained by ICE without warrant shown — Estefany Rodriguez Florez, a reporter for Nashville Noticias who has done stories critical of ICE, was arrested during a traffic stop without being shown a warrant, according to court documents filed by her attorney. Rodriguez, a Colombian citizen with a valid work permit who entered the U.S. lawfully, has been living in the country for five years and applied for political asylum through her U.S. citizen husband. She left Colombia after receiving death threats for her coverage of crime.

Supporting reports

• Two teens charged with attempted bombing outside NYC Mayor Mamdani's home during anti-Islam protest — Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested on March 7 after allegedly throwing explosive devices containing TATP near Gracie Mansion during dueling protests—a far-right "Stop the Islamic Takeover" rally led by pardoned January 6 rioter Jake Lang and a counter-demonstration. Federal authorities allege the teens are Islamic State supporters who confessed to the plot. They face charges including attempted material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, use of a weapon of mass destruction, and unlawful possession of destructive devices. If convicted, they could face decades in prison.
• DOJ announces charges against two ISIS supporters for attempted detonation of explosive devices at Gracie Mansion protest — The Department of Justice announced charges against Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, alleging they attempted to detonate two improvised explosive devices during a protest outside Gracie Mansion in Manhattan on March 7, 2026. According to the complaint, Balat threw one device into a crowd of protesters and dropped a second device near NYPD officers. Both men allegedly stated support for ISIS after arrest. The devices contained TATP explosive with metal shrapnel attached. Charges include attempted provision of material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, use of a weapon of mass destruction, and unlawful possession of destructive devices.
• Two teenagers charged with terrorism for throwing explosives at Gracie Mansion — Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were charged in federal court with terrorism and weapons of mass destruction offenses after allegedly throwing improvised explosive devices during an anti-Islam demonstration outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani's residence on Saturday. According to a criminal complaint, both declared allegiance to ISIS. Neither device exploded; both were made safe by the NYPD bomb squad. The men allegedly traveled from Pennsylvania to carry out the attack.
• Two teenagers charged with terrorism over explosive devices at anti-Islam protest outside NYC mayor's home — Two teenagers, Emir Balat (18) and Ibrahim Kayumi (19), were charged in federal court with five counts each including terrorism, use of weapons of mass destruction, and possession of explosive devices. On Saturday, March 8, they allegedly threw improvised explosive devices containing TATP during an anti-Islam protest outside Gracie Mansion, the residence of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Neither device exploded; both were neutralized by the NYPD bomb squad. The defendants, from Pennsylvania, admitted involvement and pledged allegiance to ISIS. They were arrested within an hour of arriving in New York.
• Explosive device thrown at anti-Islam protest outside NYC mayor's residence — Counter-protesters threw improvised explosive devices (IEDs) outside New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence during a clash with far-right anti-Islam demonstrators led by Jake Lang on Saturday. Police confirmed the devices contained nuts, bolts, screws, and hobby fuses and could have caused serious injury or death. Two men, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested at the scene. A third suspicious device was found in a vehicle nearby. Six people total were arrested during the confrontation.

Supporting reports

• Nashville journalist Estefany Rodríguez detained by ICE without warrant, released after 15 days — Estefany Rodríguez, a Colombia-born journalist covering immigration for Nashville Noticias, was arrested by ICE on March 4 without a warrant, despite holding a valid work permit and pending asylum and green card applications. She spent 15 days in custody across Alabama and Louisiana detention facilities, endured isolation and alleged chemical abuse by guards, and was denied attorney contact for 10 days. A federal judge released her on a $10,000 bond on March 20. Her lawyers alleged she was targeted for her reporting on ICE operations.

Supporting reports

• Kristi Noem refuses to retract "domestic terrorist" claim about unarmed protesters — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared before Congress on March 3, 2026, and refused to retract her statements labeling two unarmed protesters killed by ICE and CBP officers as "domestic terrorists." Senator Dick Durbin challenged her to withdraw the claim, noting that ICE and CBP officials had testified they did not provide information supporting the terrorism allegation. Noem cited "reports from the ground" but offered no evidence.
• Kristi Noem refuses to retract false statements calling killed Minnesotans "domestic terrorists" at Senate oversight hearing — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3 and refused to retract her characterization of two U.S. citizens killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis as "domestic terrorists." Senator Dick Durbin pressed Noem to acknowledge the false accusation against Renee Good and Alex Pretti, but she deflected, citing "chaotic" reports from agents at the scene. The hearing also addressed concerns about arrest quotas, a $220 million advertising contract awarded to a firm run by Noem's former spokesperson, and inspector general complaints of obstruction.

Supporting reports

• ICE detainee Emmanuel Damas dies after delayed medical care for tooth infection — Emmanuel Damas, a Haitian asylum seeker held at Florence correctional center in Arizona, died on March 2, 2026, after reporting severe tooth pain in mid-February and not receiving timely medical attention. He was transferred to hospitals on February 25 after collapsing, diagnosed with septic shock due to pneumonia, and died days later on a ventilator. A Chandler city council member called for an investigation into the delayed care.

Supporting reports

• DHS instructs agents to identify naturalized citizens who voted — The Department of Homeland Security sent a memo instructing agents in its investigative arm to identify any person who registered to vote and/or voted in any federal, state, or local election and subsequently became naturalized U.S. citizens. This directive, seen by the Guardian, is part of the administration's effort to stir up fears about illegal voting by noncitizens—a phenomenon that is extremely rare—ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge blocks Trump administration policy authorizing arrest and detention of lawful refugees in Minnesota — A federal judge issued an order blocking a Trump administration policy that permitted immigration authorities to arrest and detain refugees in Minnesota who had been lawfully admitted to the US but had not yet obtained permanent resident status. The court ruled the administration's interpretation of federal law was incorrect and that the policy violated constitutional protections. The judge found the approach had "terrorized" refugees by subjecting them to potential indefinite detention despite their lawful status. The injunction bars federal authorities from arresting or detaining refugees in Minnesota solely because they lack permanent resident status after one year in the country.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — U.H.A. et al v. Bondi et al (D. Minn.) 0:26-cv-00417 — The court granted Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, holding that DHS likely lacks statutory authority under 8 U.S.C. § 1159(a) to arrest or detain Minnesota refugees solely because they have not yet adjusted to lawful permanent resident status, and enjoining enforcement of that detention policy against the putative class while denying preliminary relief as to the already-released detained subclass.

Supporting reports

• Democratic state lawmakers introduce bills to bar ICE employees from future civil service jobs — Democratic legislators in at least four states—New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, and California—introduced bills that would render ICE employees hired during Trump's second term ineligible for positions in law enforcement, public education, and state civil service. New Jersey assemblyman Ravi Bhalla introduced legislation barring anyone who joined ICE between September 2025 and 2029 from state and local government employment. Maryland's Adrian Boafo introduced the ICE Breaker Act, preventing state police from hiring ICE recruits after January 20, 2025. California's Anamarie Ávila Farías proposed the Melt Ice Act, blocking ICE employees from becoming teachers or police officers. None have been signed into law; legal challenges are anticipated.

Supporting reports

• DHS agents arrest Columbia student using false pretenses — DHS agents arrested Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva after misrepresenting themselves as police searching for a missing child to gain access to an off-campus residence building, according to the university's president. Aghayeva was released from federal custody hours later following an apparent intervention by Trump after he met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who raised concerns about the detention.
• Mamdani meets Trump in Oval Office; secures housing funding pitch and immigration detainee release — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump in an unannounced Oval Office visit on Thursday. Mamdani pitched a $21 billion federal grant proposal for 12,000 affordable housing units, including construction over a rail yard in Sunnyside, Queens. During the meeting, Trump appeared "enthusiastic" about the housing plan. Mamdani also secured the release of a Columbia University student from federal immigration detention who had been arrested that morning, and requested Trump consider dismissing cases against four other detained students, including Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.
• Trump agreed to release detained Columbia student following mayor's intervention — NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump and raised concerns about Elmina Aghayeva's detention by ICE. Trump agreed to release her "imminently." Aghayeva confirmed her release via Instagram the same day, stating she was "safe and okay." The intervention bypassed normal legal processes and demonstrated executive discretion over immigration enforcement outcomes based on political access.
• ICE detained Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva using misrepresentation to gain apartment access — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered an off-campus Columbia University residential building on February 27, 2026, by falsely claiming to search for a missing child. They detained student Elmina Aghayeva without a warrant. Columbia's acting president confirmed agents misrepresented themselves and lacked proper legal authorization. Following a meeting between NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Trump, Aghayeva was released the same day. The incident sparked campus protests and criticism from state officials over ICE's tactics.

Supporting reports

• ICE detains Gámez-Cuéllar family despite asylum status and legal compliance — ICE detained the Gámez-Cuéllar family—parents Luis and Emma, and children Antonio (18), Caleb (14), and Joshua (12)—on February 25 after they reported to a scheduled ICE appointment. The family had entered the U.S. in 2023 on an asylum claim, had been granted asylum, attended all required court dates and check-ins, and had no criminal history. The parents were held at Dilley family detention center; Antonio was held separately at an adult facility. The detention occurred despite the family's full compliance with immigration procedures.

Supporting reports

• ICE whistleblower testifies on unconstitutional training practices — During congressional testimony, ICE whistleblower Ryan Schwank, a former ICE lawyer at the training academy, revealed that the agency's 584-hour training program for new deportation officers had been cut by 240 hours and that he received "secretive orders" to teach recruits "to violate the Constitution by entering homes without a judicial warrant."
• Former ICE instructor testified about inadequate training for new officers — Ryan Schwank, a former ICE instructor and attorney who resigned from the agency less than two weeks prior, testified to Congress that the agency's efforts to rapidly scale up its ranks will place recruits on the streets without adequate training to lawfully carry out immigration enforcement. Schwank stated that new cadets are graduating from the Academy despite widespread concerns among training staff that they cannot demonstrate a solid grasp of the tactics or law required to perform their jobs. He testified that ICE has cut 240 hours of training from a 584-hour program, eliminating classes on the Constitution, the legal system, firearms, use of force, lawful arrests, proper detention, and the limits of officers' authority. Schwank characterized the ICE Basic Immigration Enforcement Training Program as "deficient, defective, and broken" and stated that ICE is lying about the amount of training new recruits are receiving.
• Ryan Schwank resigned from ICE in protest — Ryan Schwank, an attorney and former career ICE employee, resigned from the agency less than two weeks prior to testifying before Congress. A spokesperson for Whistleblower Aid, the legal group representing Schwank, stated that he quit the agency in protest. His resignation represents one of the first instances of an ICE official who has served under the second Trump administration publicly rebuking the agency and the adequacy of its training.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration plans to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Yemeni nationals — The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni nationals in April 2026. Thousands of Yemeni nationals in the Detroit area currently hold TPS and face deportation to a country experiencing over 12 years of active warfare. Community leaders report the Yemeni population lacks lobbying power to challenge the termination in court and faces severe uncertainty about their legal status and safety.
• Trump administration travel ban on Arab-majority countries and visa processing shutdown — Since retaking office, the Trump administration mandated travel bans and a shutdown on immigrant visa processing for citizens of 12 Arab-majority countries and territories. The policy has angered Arab American voters who supported Trump in 2024, particularly those with family members abroad or on temporary protected status, and has created widespread fear in Arab American communities in Michigan and beyond.

Supporting reports

• Multiple international tourists detained by ICE under expanded enforcement — Between January and July 2025, at least six international tourists were detained by ICE: German tourist Jessica Brösche (45 days, including 8 days solitary confinement, 25 January); Germans Lucas Sielaff and Fabian Schmidt (early February); British backpacker Rebecca Burke (19 days, late February); Canadian actor Jasmine Mooney (two weeks, March); and New Zealander Sarah Shaw and her six-year-old son (three weeks, July). Most were detained on suspicion of working without proper visas, though several had valid documentation. These cases represent a pattern of ICE detaining tourists and travelers under Trump's expanded enforcement directives.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention of toddler during traffic stop in Shoreline, Washington — Federal ICE agents conducted an enforcement operation in Shoreline, Washington, detaining Ivan Guzman, a Mexican immigrant father and cook, during a routine drive to drop his two-year-old son at daycare. Armed and masked agents surrounded Guzman's vehicle with four unmarked cars at a busy intersection. The child remained in an ICE vehicle for more than thirty minutes while agents waited for the mother to arrive, causing the toddler to panic and cry. Community advocates documented the incident and gathered evidence while attempting to support the separated child.
• Trump administration expands immigration enforcement crackdown across US cities and towns — The Trump administration has expanded its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations nationwide, conducting raids in major cities including Los Angeles and Chicago during summer 2025 and continuing enforcement actions into early 2026. The crackdown has prompted grassroots community organizing, including the distribution of whistles as alert systems to warn neighbors of ICE presence. Documented incidents include the detention of a Mexican immigrant father during a traffic stop in Washington state, with his toddler left in an ICE vehicle, and multiple arrests at busy intersections and during routine activities.

Supporting reports

• DHS memo authorizes ICE detention of legal refugees for "rescreening" — The Department of Homeland Security issued a memo authorizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and indefinitely detain legal refugees already admitted to the US who have not yet obtained permanent residence (green cards), subjecting them to intensive interviews and background checks while in custody. The policy reverses a 2010 Obama-era guidance and directly contradicts a federal judge's recent order blocking such arrests in Minnesota. The memo claims conditional admission and mandatory one-year review compel detention authority.

Supporting reports

• Border Patrol abandonment and death of Rohingya refugee Nurul Shah Alam ruled homicide — Nurul Shah Alam, a nearly blind 56-year-old Rohingya refugee, was arrested on 15 February after wandering into a residential backyard in Buffalo, New York. After pleading guilty to reduced charges on 9 February 2026, he was released from Erie County custody on 19 February. US Customs and Border Protection agents assumed custody without notifying his family or attorneys, then dropped him alone at a closed Tim Hortons at 8:18 pm in below-freezing temperatures wearing only detention booties. His body was found four miles away on 24 February. On 1 April, the Erie County medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, citing complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration.
• Border patrol agents abandoned nearly blind refugee, found dead days later — Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old nearly blind Burmese refugee, was dropped off by US border patrol agents at a Tim Hortons approximately five miles from his home on February 19, 2026, following his release from Erie County holding center. Neither his attorney nor family were notified of his release or location. Shah Alam was found dead in Buffalo on February 25. Homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death and the events leading to his abandonment.
• Border Patrol dropped blind refugee miles from home without notification — On February 19, Border Patrol agents dropped Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind legal refugee from genocide in Myanmar who spoke no English and could not read, write, or use electronic devices, miles from his home in Buffalo, New York. Agents did not notify his lawyer or family of the drop-off. When his family filed a missing persons report, police believed Shah Alam was still with Border Patrol and closed the file. He was found dead on the street on February 24. A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson claimed agents had offered Shah Alam a "courtesy ride" to a coffee shop near his last known address and that he "showed no signs of distress, mobility issues or disabilities requiring special assistance."

Supporting reports

• ICE Agents Conduct Raids to Confiscate Letters from Detained Children — Federal ICE agents conducted raids inside dormitories at the Dilley, Texas detention facility to confiscate letters written by detained children. The letters, which described hunger, illness, and fear, had been published by ProPublica. The timing followed immediately after the publication of excerpts, suggesting a coordinated effort to suppress documentation of detention conditions.

Supporting reports

• Infant Hospitalized at Dilley Detention Facility with Bronchitis — A 2-month-old child held at the Dilley, Texas ICE detention facility was rushed to the hospital Monday night after falling ill. The infant was discharged with a diagnosis of bronchitis and returned to the detention facility. The incident is part of a pattern of medical emergencies and deaths reported in ICE detention facilities in recent years.
• Two-month-old infant detained in ICE private prison facility experiences respiratory illness — A two-month-old boy named Juan Nicolás was held in a CoreCivic private detention facility in Dilley, Texas, where he developed respiratory illness while in ICE custody. The child spent more than three weeks of his two-month life in the private prison, which bills the federal government for detaining infants. Conditions at the facility included recent measles exposure, difficulty obtaining clean water for formula, and limited medical care until the child's condition deteriorated sufficiently to warrant ambulance transport. Juan Nicolás was later discharged from the hospital and returned to ICE detention with a diagnosis of bronchitis.
• Two-month-old infant deported from ICE detention facility after hospitalization — Juan Nicolás, a two-month-old infant, was detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas for approximately three and a half weeks. He was hospitalized for bronchitis and serious respiratory illness, discharged, returned to detention, and deported to Mexico with his family the same day, according to U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro. The family was deported with only $190 from their detention commissary account.
• Two-month-old Juan Nicolás deported from ICE detention after hospitalization — Juan Nicolás, a two-month-old infant, spent approximately 3.5 weeks detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. He was hospitalized for bronchitis and serious respiratory illness, discharged, returned to detention, and deported to Mexico with his family on the same day of his discharge. According to Rep. Joaquin Castro, the entire family was abandoned across the border with $190 in total funds provided by ICE.

Supporting reports

• Federal officers use force against protesters in immigration crackdown — The Washington Post reported that federal officers carrying out Trump's immigration crackdown in cities across the country have shot 13 people with guns. Far more frequently, they have used harsh tactics including rubber bullets, pepper spray, tear gas, explosive flash-bangs, vehicle ramming, and pointing guns at peaceful protesters and people obstructing them. Officers masked and equipped with military-grade armor and rifles have injured hundreds of people. Courts in at least four states have found that officers used force inappropriately and indiscriminately.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration unlawfully detained immigrants over 4,400 times — According to Reuters reporting on judicial findings, the Trump administration unlawfully detained immigrants more than 4,400 times since October 2025, as documented by hundreds of judges. The detentions are part of a broader immigration enforcement policy that has driven ICE detention to record highs and generated over 20,000 lawsuits. The pattern reflects systemic violations of detention law and due process.