Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• ICE detains Irish national with valid work permit for five months pending deportation — Seamus Culleton, an Irish national married to a US citizen with a valid work permit and statutory exemption to work, has been held in ICE custody for five months facing deportation. An Irish court warrant from April 2009 for alleged drug possession and obstruction of police emerged during his detention. ICE claims he overstayed his visa; an immigration judge issued a final removal order on September 10, 2025. Culleton disputes signing a deportation consent form and has appealed to the Irish government for intervention.

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• Governor Walz calls for accountability and federal payment for Minnesota operation damages — Governor Tim Walz addressed Minnesota following the announced withdrawal, calling for accountability and demanding that the federal government pay for damage and destruction caused by the operation. Walz emphasized that trust has been eroded and highlighted the human cost, including generational trauma to children who witnessed classmates being taken away. He credited peaceful protest and civic engagement with forcing the retreat.
• Trump administration withdraws ICE and Border Patrol from Minnesota operation — Tom Homan announced that ICE and Border Patrol personnel deployed under "Operation Metro Surge" will be withdrawn from Minnesota. Homan stated the search operation will conclude, with a significant drawdown already underway and continuing through the following week. The withdrawal follows weeks of documented abuses and local resistance, including pushback from Governor Tim Walz and community documentation of harm.
• Tom Homan announces drawdown of ICE surge in Minnesota — Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, announced on February 13 that the federal ICE surge in Minnesota would be ending, with agents being drawn down over the course of that week and the following week. The announcement came after weeks of intensive enforcement operations that had disrupted schools, businesses, and community life across the state.
• Border czar announces wind-down of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota — Tom Homan, the U.S. border czar, announced on Thursday, February 13, that the administration was winding down "Operation Metro Surge" and that the number of ICE agents in Minnesota would return to normal levels. Homan recently assumed leadership of the operation from Greg Bovino, a senior Border Patrol official who was in charge when federal agents fatally shot two civilians in Minneapolis. The announcement came before the Senate's failed vote on DHS appropriations.
• Trump administration announces drawdown of immigration surge operation in Minnesota — Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, announced at a press briefing that President Trump has approved ending the months-long immigration crackdown surge in Minnesota. Homan stated agents would be returned to normal duties or reassigned, with Minnesota's agent count returning to approximately 100 from over 2,000. The operation had resulted in the deaths of two US citizens, mass detentions, and widespread protests. Security teams will remain to monitor "agitators" opposing immigration enforcement. Homan cited coordination with local law enforcement as enabling the drawdown.
• Trump administration ends ICE surge in Minneapolis — Tom Homan, Trump's immigration advisor, announced that the administration will end its surge of federal agents in Minneapolis, claiming the operation achieved "successful results" including 4,000 arrests. Agents will remain in the city but the surge of thousands will conclude. This announcement came after Border Patrol agents under then-commander Greg Bovino shot and killed a second American citizen in the city, and after more than a dozen federal prosecutors resigned when the Department of Justice declined to investigate the killings.
• Trump Administration's Decision to End Deportation Surge in Minneapolis — The Trump Administration has announced it will end the deportation surge in Minneapolis, a decision attributed to public pressure and advocacy efforts. This move comes after widespread community response and protest against what was perceived as a hostile federal occupation. The decision marks a significant victory for local activists and community organizers who have been working to protect immigrant communities from aggressive enforcement actions.

Supporting reports

• Class action complaint filed in Rodriguez v. Porter (D. Idaho) — Three families filed a class action complaint in federal court challenging a Oct. 19, 2025 raid at La Catedral, a venue hosting a family horse-racing event with predominantly Latino attendees. Federal, state, and local law enforcement officers executed the raid pursuant to a search warrant based on an anonymous tip; plaintiffs allege the officers acted in an armed and violent manner and denied detainees food, water, medical attention, and bathroom access. Arrest warrants were subsequently issued for five individuals on non-violent gambling charges. Plaintiffs allege the raid was part of a broader federal immigration-enforcement initiative and violated their Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights and 42 U.S.C. § 1983, seeking class certification and a declaration that the Administration's actions were unlawful.
• ACLU files federal civil rights lawsuit over Idaho horse racing venue raid — The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal civil rights lawsuit following an ICE raid on a horse racing venue in Wilder, Idaho, that resulted in the detention of 105 undocumented immigrants and the temporary detention of 375 U.S. citizens or lawful residents. Only five arrests resulted in criminal charges, all for unlicensed gambling. The lawsuit was filed after federal agents allegedly used zip ties on children during the operation.

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• ICE enforcement escalation expands into community spaces and everyday interactions under Trump administration second term — The Trump administration's second-term deportation push has escalated dramatically, expanding enforcement into community spaces and everyday interactions. ICE has systematically made it harder for people in detention to access legal representation, moved to eliminate bond hearings and conventional release mechanisms, and transferred detainees to remote facilities far from legal aid organizations and family support systems. Communities from New Bedford, Massachusetts to counties across Kentucky and North Carolina report growing fear as enforcement sweeps continue and jail-based transfers increase.
• ICE arrests through local jail cooperation reached 48 percent — Analysis of newly released federal data by the Prison Policy Initiative shows that nearly half of all ICE arrests in the United States now occur through local jail cooperation rather than federal enforcement actions. Individuals arrested for minor offenses are automatically reported to ICE, which places detainers to hold them past their release date, funneling them into the deportation system before conviction or judicial review. States with sanctuary policies show lower rates; states with 287(g) agreements show higher rates.

Supporting reports

• Whistles deployed in nationwide protests against Trump ICE enforcement operations — Activists across the United States have adopted whistles as a coordinated protest tool to alert communities to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agent presence during Trump's immigration crackdown. Protesters use short bursts to signal ICE sightings and sustained patterns when witnessing detentions. Over 150,000 whistles have been distributed nationwide by advocacy groups. The tactic has spread to major cities including Chicago, New York, Portland, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis, with lawmakers and public figures including musician Justin Vernon and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib publicly endorsing the practice.

Supporting reports

• Administration plans national detention warehouse system with seven mega facilities — The Trump administration is working to establish a national detention system that would book newly arrested detainees into processing sites before sending them to one of seven warehouses designed to hold 5,000 to 10,000 people each. Sixteen smaller warehouses would hold up to 1,500 people each. From these facilities, people would be deported. A DHS spokesperson stated the facilities would meet "regular detention standards."
• ICE Plans for New Detention Facilities Announced — The Department of Homeland Security has secured funding for new detention facilities, including a $87.4 million facility outside Philadelphia and a $37 million facility near San Antonio. These facilities are part of a broader plan to expand the capacity for immigrant detention across the United States.
• Increase in Immigrant Detention Numbers Reported — Following the implementation of the new mass detention policy, the number of immigrants held in U.S. detention facilities has surged from approximately 40,000 to over 70,000. This increase is attributed to the policy's expansion of the categories of noncitizens subject to detention, with facilities now numbering 224, which is 104 more than before the Trump administration took office.

Supporting reports

• Termination of VA Agreement with ICE Reported — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) terminated its agreement with ICE to provide medical care for detainees on September 30, 2025, following political pressure and misinformation regarding the funding of veterans' care. This abrupt termination has left detainees without access to prescribed medications and necessary off-site medical care.
• ICE detention population expands to over 70,000 across 224 facilities — The United States is currently holding more than 70,000 immigrants in 224 detention facilities across the nation, an increase of 104 facilities from before Trump took office. This represents an increase from approximately 40,000 people held on any given day before the new detention policy. The detainees include children. Private prison companies operate these facilities under contract with the U.S. government.
• ICE Stops Paying for Detainee Medical Care — The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency ceased payments to third-party medical providers for detainee care as of October 3, 2025, and will not process claims until at least April 30, 2026. This decision has led to some medical providers denying care to detainees, exacerbating health risks for those in detention.
• Reports of Violations at Camp East Montana — Reports indicate that Camp East Montana, a detention facility at Fort Bliss, Texas, has violated at least 60 federal standards for immigrant detention, raising concerns about the conditions and treatment of detainees. The facility is part of a larger system of detention centers operated by private prison companies under government contracts.

Supporting reports

• Camp East Montana detention facility violates 60 federal detention standards — According to ICE's own oversight unit, Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss, Texas, has violated at least 60 federal standards for immigrant detention. The $1.24 billion contract was awarded to a small business that operates out of a residential address and has little to no publicly available record of managing immigration facilities.
• Death ruled homicide at Camp East Montana detention facility — A medical examiner ruled the death of detainee Geraldo Lunas Campos at Camp East Montana, a $1.2 billion detention facility located at Fort Bliss Army base in Texas, a homicide. The death occurred in January 2026. Two other detainees have also died at the facility: Victor Manuel Díaz, whose death in January remains unclear though officials claim it was "presumed suicide," and Francisco Gaspar Andrés, who died in December after being transported to an El Paso hospital for treatment of a serious medical condition.

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• ICE conducts rapid "smash and grab" immigration arrests across multiple US cities with shifting tactics to evade documentation — ICE has intensified immigration enforcement operations across the US with evolving tactics designed to avoid public scrutiny. In Los Angeles, arrests have accelerated from extended operations to rapid five-minute sweeps. San Diego saw a Home Depot detention in late December lasting approximately five minutes. Portland experienced a 1,500% detention surge during October–December operations, with ongoing check-ins at ICE facilities. Charlotte saw increased detentions at immigration check-in locations post-CBP withdrawal. Washington DC arrests remain elevated following Trump's August deployment order, with federal agents continuing patrols assisted by local police despite a preliminary injunction limiting warrantless arrests. San Diego courthouse arrests have shifted from public hallways to private check-in rooms.

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• Trump administration seeks deportation order for five-year-old boy after judge ordered release — The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security announced it is seeking a deportation order for Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old Ecuadorian boy who entered the US legally as an asylum applicant. Liam and his father were detained by ICE in Minneapolis in January, transferred to a family detention facility in Texas, and ordered released by a judge on January 31. The government is now seeking to end their asylum claims despite the judicial release order. Family lawyers characterized the move as "extraordinary" and potentially "retaliatory."

Supporting reports

• ICE conducted racial profiling and raids on Hispanic-owned businesses — Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted raids involving racial profiling and targeting of Hispanic-owned businesses as part of Trump's deportation crackdown. The enforcement pattern, consistent with prior U.S. deportation efforts since 1930, involves agents detaining individuals based on appearance rather than legal status, driving away Hispanic voters who were part of Trump's 2024 coalition.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration attempts to deploy National Guard to Portland ICE facility; federal judge blocks deployment — Trump attempted to deploy the National Guard to quell demonstrations outside an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon. A federal judge ultimately blocked the deployment. However, protests have persisted as federal agents continue regular immigration check-ins at the facility. Tensions escalated in recent weeks after border patrol agents shot two people outside a medical facility in January, ICE agents arrested a seven-year-old and her parents seeking emergency medical care, and federal agents deployed tear gas against thousands of people at a daytime march, including many children.

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• Department of Homeland Security issued interim final rule restricting immigration appeals — The Department of Homeland Security issued a new interim final rule making sweeping changes to Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) procedures. The rule reduces the time for immigrants to file appeals after receiving a deportation order from 30 days to 10 days and mandates dismissal of all cases within 15 days unless a majority of BIA members vote to accept the appeal. Immigration lawyer Craig Relles warned the rule will "flood the federal courts" and result in more immigrants being detained by ICE.

Supporting reports

• Florida mandates English-only driver's license testing — As of February 6, 2026, Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles eliminated multilingual driver's license examinations, requiring all knowledge and skills tests to be conducted in English only. Previously, noncommercial exams were offered in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese. Translation services and printed exams in other languages are now prohibited. Critics argue the policy disproportionately affects immigrant communities and non-English speakers, including U.S. citizens, and creates barriers to essential services.

Supporting reports

• Measles outbreak confirmed at Dilley family detention center in Texas — At least two confirmed measles cases were reported at the Dilley family detention center in south Texas, a major ICE facility holding children and parents. The outbreak occurs amid a broader national measles surge, with 588 confirmed US cases in 2026 and vaccination rates declining. Democratic congressman Joaquin Castro called for the facility to be "shut down immediately," citing inadequate conditions and the risk of exponential spread in close quarters. ICE and HHS did not respond to inquiries about vaccination campaigns or containment measures.

Supporting reports

• White House announced 700-agent drawdown from Minnesota — White House border czar Tom Homan announced on February 4 that 700 immigration agents would leave Minnesota immediately. However, as of the article date, fewer than 1,000 agents remain in the state, not zero. Court filings confirm thousands of federal agents were assigned to Operation Metro Surge at various points, described by DHS as its largest enforcement operation ever. Legal observers continue reporting enforcement activity in suburbs despite the announced drawdown.
• White House border czar announces partial withdrawal of federal agents from Minnesota — Tom Homan, White House border czar, announced that approximately 700 federal immigration agents would be withdrawn from Minnesota, reducing the surge but leaving roughly 2,000 agents in the state—far above historical levels. The reduction is contingent on county jails agreeing to hold immigrants for up to 48 hours after their release dates to facilitate federal pickup. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated the drawdown is insufficient and called for complete withdrawal of Operation Metro Surge, citing two killings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in January and widespread community fear.
• Tom Homan replaces Gregory Bovino as federal immigration enforcement lead in Minnesota — Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan announced a drawdown of 700 federal immigration officers in Minnesota while maintaining roughly 2,000 officers in the state—far above the typical 150. Homan, replacing Gregory Bovino following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and mounting local backlash, stated the operation remains focused on deporting all undocumented immigrants regardless of criminal history. He emphasized "unprecedented collaboration" with county sheriffs to access local jails for ICE notifications, though major Minnesota counties have not confirmed participation.

Supporting reports

• Judge considers temporary restraining order on federal agents' use of force at Portland ICE protests — A federal judge is weighing whether to issue a temporary restraining order restricting federal officers' ability to use force during protests in Portland, Oregon, following weekend demonstrations at an ICE facility. Federal agents deployed teargas, pepper balls, and flash-bang grenades on crowds that included children and elderly people. The ACLU of Oregon filed a class-action lawsuit in November alleging sustained retaliatory violence by federal officers. A judge indicated a ruling would come on Tuesday.
• Federal judge temporarily restricts ICE use of teargas and projectiles against Portland protesters — U.S. District Judge Michael Simon issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting ICE officers from using chemical or projectile munitions against protesters outside the ICE building in Portland, Oregon, unless the targeted person poses an imminent threat of physical harm. The ruling followed a weekend protest on January 31 in which federal agents fired teargas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets at a crowd including children, which local officials described as peaceful. The order also restricts munitions targeting the head, neck, or torso unless deadly force is legally justified. The restraining order remains in effect for 14 days.

Supporting reports

• Steve Bannon stated ICE will surround polls in November — Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon stated on his podcast that "we're going to have ICE surround the polls come November" and added "we're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again." The statement preceded the White House press secretary's refusal to rule out ICE presence at voting sites.
• Steve Bannon calls for ICE presence at polling sites during midterm elections — Steve Bannon, former White House strategist and influential far-right podcast host, publicly stated on his War Room show that immigration agents should "surround the polls" during November's midterm elections. The statement repeats false claims about undocumented voter participation. Election officials nationwide have expressed concern about potential Trump administration interference in voting, particularly ICE presence at polling places, which can intimidate voters and suppress turnout. Courts have already blocked portions of Trump's citizenship-requirement executive order.
• Steve Bannon announces ICE will surround polls in November — Trump ally Steve Bannon stated on his podcast that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will surround polling places in November, framing it as prevention of election theft. Bannon declared "we will never again allow an election to be stolen," echoing rhetoric used to justify the 1898 Wilmington coup and signaling intent to use federal law enforcement to intimidate voters.
• Steve Bannon calls for ICE to surround polling places in November — On his podcast on February 4, 2026, Steve Bannon openly stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should surround polling places in November to prevent what he falsely characterizes as a stolen election. This statement constitutes a direct threat to free and fair elections and voter access. Bannon's statement has received minimal media coverage despite its severity and Trump's continued public association with Bannon.
• White House press secretary declined to rule out ICE presence at polling locations — During a White House briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she could not guarantee that ICE would not be present at voting sites during the November midterm elections, though she claimed Trump has no "formal plans" to deploy federal immigration agents to polling locations. Leavitt dismissed the question as "very silly," "hypothetical," and "disingenuous." The statement followed comments from former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who said on his podcast that "we're going to have ICE surround the polls come November" and "we're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again."

Supporting reports

• U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes issued temporary restraining order blocking termination of Haiti's Temporary Protected Status — U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes issued a temporary restraining order stopping Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 353,000 Haitian nationals pending resolution of a lawsuit challenging the termination. The judge found that Noem ignored statutory procedures and criteria established by Congress, instead relying on ideological hostility to nonwhite immigrants. Reyes noted that Noem has terminated all twelve TPS designations that reached her desk and that the factual record contradicts the administration's characterization of TPS holders as criminals or economic drains.
• Federal judge temporarily blocked termination of Haitian TPS protections — A federal judge in Washington, D.C. issued a temporary halt to the planned termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals scheduled to take effect on February 3, 2026. The injunction paused removal proceedings that would have exposed TPS-covered individuals to increased risk of deportation to Haiti.
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration's revocation of Haitian temporary protected status — Judge Ana Reyes issued a temporary stay blocking Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's decision to revoke temporary protected status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitians. The revocation was scheduled to take effect on Tuesday. Reyes found that plaintiffs—five Haitian TPS holders including a neuroscientist, software engineer, laboratory assistant, college student, and registered nurse—were likely to prevail on the merits and that Noem's decision appeared preordained by "hostility to nonwhite immigrants." During the stay, the termination has no legal effect and TPS holders retain work authorization and deportation protections.
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration's termination of Haitian TPS, but ICE enforcement threat persists in Springfield, Ohio — U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a ruling on Monday, February 3, 2026, blocking the Trump administration's attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. The decision pauses the termination while litigation proceeds. However, despite this legal victory, thousands of Haitians in Springfield, Ohio—where 10,000 to 15,000 remain—face ongoing fear of ICE raids. Local businesses have closed, families are making deportation contingency plans, and uncertainty persists about whether federal immigration enforcement will target the community.

Supporting reports

• Judge denies Minnesota's request to end ICE surge in Minneapolis — A federal judge denied Minnesota's legal request to halt or limit the ICE surge in Minneapolis. The state sought judicial intervention to stop the federal enforcement operations, but the court declined to grant relief, allowing the deportation campaign to continue unimpeded by state-level legal challenge.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge rules ICE arrests in Oregon unlawful and issues preliminary restrictions — US District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai issued a preliminary decision in a class-action lawsuit challenging ICE arrest tactics in Oregon. The judge found officers engaged in "misconduct," made false statements in reports (including falsely claiming a detainee entered unlawfully when she arrived on a valid visa), and improperly used inaccurate facial recognition technology. Kasubhai broadly restricted ICE agents in Oregon from arresting people without warrants and criticized the facial recognition app for relying on data that "can be inaccurate."
• Federal judge issues preliminary injunction blocking ICE warrantless arrests in Oregon — U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai issued a preliminary injunction halting ICE's warrantless arrest operations in Oregon, ruling that agents may only detain people without warrants if they produce individualized narratives documenting probable cause established before arrest. The judge found ICE's conduct "brutal and violent" and in systematic violation of federal law and constitutional rights. The ruling applies to Operation Black Rose, a DHS enforcement initiative that resulted in over 1,200 arrests through mid-December 2025. Oregon becomes the third jurisdiction with such protections, following similar orders in Colorado and Washington DC.

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• U.S. District Judge Fred Biery orders release of detained asylum seeker and child — U.S. District Judge Fred Biery issued an order requiring the release of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, asylum seeker Adrian Conejo Arias, from detention. In his ruling, Judge Biery stated that U.S. officials conducting the immigration enforcement campaign are ignoring the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and noted that "the rule of law be damned" in the pursuit of unbridled power and cruelty. He accompanied his signature with biblical passages and an image of the detained child.
• Federal judge grants habeas petition for detained five-year-old, criticizes government deportation quotas — Federal Judge Fred Biery of Texas's western district granted a habeas petition for five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who had pending asylum claims. In his ruling, Biery questioned the government's justification for detaining a young child and criticized the "ill-conceived and incompetently implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children." Liam was released from Dilley in early February, with Representative Joaquin Castro escorting the family home. Biery included a photograph of Liam in his blue bunny hat in the petition, along with two Bible verses.
• Judge orders release of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and father from ICE detention — US District Judge Fred Biery ordered the release of five-year-old Ecuadorian boy Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian Conejo Arias from a Texas ICE detention center by Tuesday, 4 February 2026. The child and father were detained by ICE agents in Minneapolis on 20 January after returning from school. The judge's ruling cited the "ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas" and referenced claims that ICE agents used the child as bait to attempt entry into the family home. The family had presented themselves to border officers in Texas in December 2024 to apply for asylum.
• Child detained by ICE ordered released and returned home — A federal judge ordered the release of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father after they were detained and sent to a family detention facility in Dilley, Texas. Following public pressure and organizing efforts, the child and father returned to Minnesota. The order came after widespread calls for action and public advocacy against the detention.

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• DHS posted message linking housing to migrant deportations — The official Department of Homeland Security account posted: "Want affordable housing? Help report illegal aliens," followed by the ICE hotline number. The post equated housing access with participation in migrant deportations, drawing comparisons to Nazi-era tactics used against Jewish citizens.

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• Trump administration conducted militarized immigration enforcement against families and children — The Trump administration conducted increasingly militarized immigration enforcement operations, with heavily armed agents in tactical gear confronting families and children. The operations included dragging lawful residents and citizens from their homes and mistakenly deporting individuals. A five-year-old child with a Spider-Man backpack was treated as a threat during enforcement actions.

Supporting reports

• Thousands march in anti-ICE protest in New York City during nationwide day of action — Thousands of protesters, including students and community members, marched through New York City on Friday to oppose the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign and ICE enforcement operations. The demonstration was part of a coordinated nationwide day of action calling for "no work, no school, no shopping." Protesters chanted against ICE, the KKK, and fascism, and marched through Manhattan streets despite freezing temperatures. The protest was organized in response to federal agents killing four people during immigration enforcement operations, including Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on January 7 and 24.
• Nationwide Protests Against Federal Actions — Tens of thousands of people participated in nationwide protests, particularly in Minneapolis, against the actions of federal agents and the Trump administration. The protests were marked by significant turnout despite harsh weather conditions, demonstrating widespread public dissent against federal policies.