Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration pursues Save Act requiring documentary proof of citizenship — The Trump administration has pushed for passage of the Save Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. The bill remains stalled in the Senate. Voting rights advocates argue the measure could disenfranchise eligible voters, particularly those in low-income, rural, and minority communities who may lack easy access to required documents.

Supporting reports

• Federal agents spray chemical agents on protesters at New Jersey ICE detention facility — On May 28, 2026, federal ICE agents deployed chemical spray and pepper balls against protesters gathered outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, where over 300 detainees were conducting a hunger and labor strike. Agents also struck protesters with batons and pushed them into oncoming traffic. According to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, six protesters were arrested. The escalation followed ICE's transfer of strike leader Martín Soto to another facility.

Supporting reports

• New Jersey Department of Health denied full access to Delaney Hall — The New Jersey Department of Health was denied full access to Delaney Hall detention center for inspection purposes. Governor Mikie Sherrill subsequently joined calls for the facility's immediate closure following the denial and reports of abuse.

Supporting reports

• DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin denies hunger strike and abuse allegations on Fox News — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin appeared on Fox News on May 28, 2026, and denied the hunger strike and abuse allegations at Delaney Hall, characterizing the protests as "political theater." Mullin claimed ICE was "providing them a safe place to stay, and food, and a place to sleep" and "going above and beyond" by offering a convenience store.

Supporting reports

• Democratic Senator Andy Kim pepper-sprayed by ICE agents during facility visit — U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) was pepper-sprayed by ICE agents on May 27, 2026, after visiting Delaney Hall detention center in Newark with New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill. Sherrill was denied entry to the facility. Kim subsequently condemned ICE and Geo Group and called for immediate closure of the facility.
• ICE pepper-sprays U.S. Senator Andy Kim during facility access attempt — On May 27, 2026, masked and armored ICE personnel pepper-sprayed U.S. Senator Andy Kim as he and other Democratic lawmakers, including New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, attempted to enter Delaney Hall to inspect conditions. Kim has made multiple prior visits in his congressional capacity and has publicly declared conditions "inhumane." DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin characterized the lawmakers' visit as "a political stunt" and denied the hunger strike was occurring, contradicting accounts from released detainees and advocates.

Supporting reports

• ICE pepper-sprays and tasers protesters outside Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark — On the evening of May 27, 2026, federal ICE officers deployed pepper spray and tasers against protesters gathered outside Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, where detainees were conducting a hunger and labor strike on their fifth day. Officers chased protesters across streets and onto train tracks, tasering at least one individual who was then carried into the facility. At least seven journalists were sprayed. The confrontation followed a day in which ICE had pepper-sprayed U.S. Senator Andy Kim during his attempt to enter the facility. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin denied the strike was occurring and accused Democratic lawmakers of spreading "smears."

Supporting reports

• ICE transfers hunger strike leader Martín Soto to another facility — ICE transferred Martín Soto, a key organizer of the hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall, to another detention facility. Advocates allege the transfer was retaliatory action against Soto for organizing the strike. The transfer prompted escalated protests outside the facility on May 28.

Supporting reports

• ICE removes tablets from detainee units to limit outside communication — Following the announcement of the hunger strike, Delaney Hall staff reportedly removed tablets from detainee units, restricting detainees' ability to communicate with the outside world. DHS subsequently announced that all visits to the facility were "currently suspended due to riots outside the facility," further isolating detainees from family, legal counsel, and advocates during an active protest and strike.

Supporting reports

• Representative Maxwell Frost documented closure of "Alligator Alcatraz" detention facility — Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) posted that he had visited "Alligator Alcatraz," a detention facility in Florida that appears to be in the process of shutting down. Frost noted that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Trump have not publicly acknowledged the closure despite spending approximately $1 billion in taxpayer funds on the site in less than one year. Frost stated that the administration does not want public discussion of the closure because it would require accountability for the expenditure and examination of "human rights abuses and civil rights abuses that happened there and in other facilities."

Supporting reports

• ICE pepper-sprayed Senator Andy Kim and demonstrators at Delaney Hall detention facility — Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deployed pepper spray and pepper balls against Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), Representative Rob Menendez Jr., Representatives Nellie Pou and LaMonica McIver, and approximately 150 protesters outside Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey. The protest was organized in response to a hunger strike by detainees protesting conditions, including inadequate medical care, overcrowding, and pressure to self-deport. The Department of Homeland Security subsequently denied the pepper spray deployment occurred and characterized the protesters as "dangerous rioters," though video evidence showed Kim had been present.

Supporting reports

• Federal appeals court temporarily blocks re-detention of Mahmoud Khalil — The Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay blocking the re-detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a 31-year-old Palestinian-American activist and US green card holder, pending supreme court review. Khalil was detained by ICE in March 2025 for 104 days; the government argued his pro-Palestinian activism constituted a threat to US foreign policy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited concerns about antisemitism and Jewish student safety. The temporary block gives Khalil reprieve as his legal team prepares a supreme court petition.

Supporting reports

• New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill denied entry to Delaney Hall — On Monday, May 26, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, was denied entry to Delaney Hall by facility management. Sherrill stated that the refusal raised "serious questions about what they are trying to hide from public view." A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson characterized Sherrill's visit as "nothing more than a political stunt on Memorial Day when visitation is currently suspended due to riots outside in the facility."
• New Jersey state police assume policing functions outside Delaney Hall ICE detention facility — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that state police will take over "public safety operations" from federal immigration officers outside Delaney Hall, a privately run ICE detention center in Newark. The state will establish a "peaceful protected zone" for demonstrators. The announcement coincides with reports of an influx of federal agents arriving to defend the facility and investigate protesters. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced DOJ charges against a protester accused of assaulting an ICE officer.

Supporting reports

• DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin denies hunger strike and poor conditions at Delaney Hall — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin posted on X denying that a hunger strike was occurring at Delaney Hall ICE detention center and asserting "There are no sub-prime conditions" at the facility. This contradicted claims by detainees who released a letter asserting they were on hunger and work strike, and by advocates documenting allegations of rotten food, lack of medical care, and non-functioning air conditioning.

Supporting reports

• ICE Pepper-Sprays Senator Andy Kim and Protesters at Newark Detention Facility — Federal agents deployed pepper spray against anti-ICE protesters outside an immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, where detainees were conducting a hunger strike over poor conditions and denial of medical care. Senator Andy Kim, who had been denied entry despite claiming ICE approval for a congressional oversight visit, was among those pepper-sprayed. Kim reported that detainees had been threatened with retaliation for their protest activities.
• Federal agents pepper-spray US senator and protesters at ICE detention facility in Newark — US Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) joined Governor Mikie Sherrill at a protest outside Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark on May 25, where detainees were staging a hunger strike over poor conditions and denied medical care. ICE agents used batons, pepper spray, and pepper balls against protesters and attempted to move vehicles through the crowd. Kim said he positioned himself between protesters and agents to de-escalate but was pepper-sprayed. The DHS later denied the hunger strike and claimed agents used minimum force against "rioters."

Supporting reports

• USCIS announced sweeping changes to green card application procedures — The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, announced sweeping policy changes requiring most green card applicants to leave the United States and apply through consulates abroad. Previously, approximately 800,000 people annually applied for green cards, with roughly half applying from within the U.S. The new policy will force applicants to leave jobs, homes, and families for weeks or months at their own expense. Consulate decisions are "virtually unchallengeable" in court, and existing backlogs will worsen. The policy affects approximately half of all green card recipients, including spouses and children of U.S. citizens and skilled professionals obtaining green cards through employers.
• USCIS announces green card adjustment must occur outside the United States — The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Friday that foreigners seeking to adjust their immigration status to secure green cards must now do so from outside the country via the State Department, rather than within the US. This marks a significant policy shift, as the green card process had remained unchanged for over 60 years. The rule change is part of the Trump administration's broader immigration policy agenda.
• Trump Administration Announces New Immigration Rule — The Trump administration announced a new immigration rule requiring foreign workers on temporary visas in the U.S. to return to their home countries while applying for green cards. This policy change disrupts the existing "Adjustment of Status" process, which allows high-skilled workers to apply for permanent residency while remaining in the U.S. The rule could significantly impact the tech industry, which relies heavily on immigrant talent. Legal challenges are expected, as the policy may conflict with existing laws passed by Congress.
• USCIS issues policy memo requiring many visa holders to obtain green cards through home countries — US Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a policy memo requiring many foreigners already in the US to leave the country and obtain green cards through their home countries rather than through adjustment of status (AOS). The memo affects hundreds of thousands of visa holders, including H-1B workers, EB-5 investors, and family-based applicants. A USCIS spokesperson later clarified that applicants offering economic benefit or national interest may continue current processes, but widespread confusion and fear persist among affected populations regarding job loss, family separation, and destabilization of long-term plans.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents deploy pepper spray and batons against protesters at New Jersey detention center — On May 24, 2026, ICE agents used pepper spray and batons to disperse approximately 70 protesters gathered outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey. Protesters had assembled to block the transfer of Martin Soto, a detainee who had announced a hunger and work strike demanding release of elderly, young, and medically vulnerable detainees. Despite the demonstration, ICE successfully transferred Soto to Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility. At least one protester was pepper-sprayed and another suffered a leg injury. Visitation at the facility was subsequently suspended.
• Law enforcement pepper-spray, tase, and arrest protesters at Delaney Hall during congressional oversight visit and detainee transfer — On May 24, during a congressional oversight visit to Delaney Hall, ICE officers pepper-sprayed protesters attempting to prevent the transfer of detainee Martin Soto, including U.S. Senator Andy Kim. The incident drew additional protesters to the facility. Government officials—ICE, New Jersey state police, and Newark police—have responded to ongoing demonstrations with pepper spray, tasers, tear gas, beatings, and arrests of dozens of protesters over the preceding two weeks.

Supporting reports

• Senator Andy Kim visited Delaney Hall and documented conditions — On Saturday, May 24, 2026, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Representative Rob Menendez Jr. visited Delaney Hall. Kim subsequently posted on social media documenting conditions he observed, including an eighteen-year-old high school student in distress, a pregnant woman without adequate obstetric care, a woman who had suffered a miscarriage without medical attention, a mother separated from her four-month-old infant, inadequate food, and a court docket showing one judge handling 74 cases in one day (approximately five minutes per case). Kim also documented a detainee from South America threatened with deportation to Congo during an active Ebola outbreak.

Supporting reports

• Delaney Hall detainees initiated work and hunger strike — Approximately 300 detainees at Delaney Hall began a coordinated work and hunger strike on Friday, May 23, 2026, protesting conditions and treatment at the facility. Detainees reported worm-infested food, overcrowding, lack of medical care for those with serious conditions including HIV, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and pressure to self-deport to third countries including Uganda. They called family members outside to share their accounts before guards restricted phone and tablet access. Detainees demanded immediate release of young detainees, the elderly, and the medically vulnerable, and sought attention to immigration judges ignoring their cases.
• Detainees conduct hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall over conditions and due process — Between 300 and 400 detainees at the Geo Group-operated Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey initiated a hunger and labor strike on its fifth day as of May 27, 2026, demanding improved food, ventilation, medical care, and expedited immigration case processing. Detainees reported inedible food containing worms, lack of air conditioning, untreated flu outbreaks, delayed medical care, and miscarriages. Released detainees confirmed participation despite Trump administration denials. Detainees are paid as little as $1 per hour for facility work. The strike will continue until Governor Sherrill is permitted to meet with detainees.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge dismisses criminal indictment against Kilmar Ábrego García, finding presumptive vindictiveness — US District Judge Waverly David Crenshaw Jr. dismissed a criminal indictment against Kilmar Ábrego García on May 23, 2026, finding that the Trump administration would not have prosecuted him had he not challenged his deportation to El Salvador. The judge determined there was sufficient evidence of "presumptive vindictiveness" based on the timing of the indictment, statements by acting attorney general Todd Blanche, and sustained DOJ oversight. Ábrego had been deported to a Salvadoran anti-terrorism prison in March 2025 despite a prior court order, then brought back to the US only after being charged with human smuggling related to a 2022 traffic stop.

Supporting reports

• USCIS policy memo requiring green card applicants to return to home countries for processing — The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under Department of Homeland Security oversight, issued a policy memo on Friday requiring foreign nationals seeking to adjust immigration status and obtain green cards to do so from outside the United States via the State Department, rather than through the existing "adjustment of status" process available to those already in the country. The policy affects over 1 million immigrants currently waiting on green cards and will likely force applicants—particularly in mixed-status families—to leave jobs, homes, and relationships for unknown periods. The change reverses a process unchanged for over 60 years.

Supporting reports

• Detainees at Delaney Hall ICE facility engage in hunger and labor strike over conditions; families report medical neglect and inhumane treatment — Immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, a private ICE jail in New Jersey run by Geo Group, launched a hunger and labor strike beginning May 22 to protest substandard conditions including medical neglect, expired food, and inadequate sanitation. Elder Guerra, a Guatemalan immigrant held for five months, suffered a serious head injury in mid-May and was placed in medical isolation without adequate recovery care. Families report distress over visitation restrictions and fear of retaliation. Congressional oversight visits confirmed detainees' claims. DHS and Geo Group deny allegations while detainees report ongoing threats and discrimination from staff.
• Hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall enters third week with women joining — The hunger and labor strike at the GEO Group-run Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, which began May 22 with approximately 300 detainees, entered its third week in June with dozens of detained women joining. Strikers cited medical neglect, spoiled food, lack of sanitation, denial of bond, and coercion to sign deportation documents. Demands include firing a guard accused of sexually assaulting at least 10 detained women. ICE responded by transferring most original hunger strikers to other facilities.
• Hunger and labor strike by detainees at Delaney Hall enters ninth day — On May 22, approximately 300–400 detainees at Delaney Hall immigration detention center began a hunger and labor strike demanding improved conditions, medical care, a meeting with Governor Sherrill, and expedited processing of their immigration cases. The strike continued through the week of protests, with detainees refusing food and work. The strike prompted family visitation cancellations and sparked external protests in support of the detainees' demands.
• Delaney Hall detainees begin hunger strike over case processing delays — On May 22, 2026, approximately 300 detainees at Delaney Hall, the largest detention center in the Northeast, began a hunger strike demanding immediate release of young, elderly, and medically vulnerable detainees and protesting that immigration judges are ignoring their cases. Detainees cited violations of Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights and reported that judges are conducting mass deportations without proper case review, disregarding federal court habeas corpus rulings, and processing cases at an unsustainable rate—one judge handling 74 cases in a single day.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge bans ICE arrests at Manhattan immigration courts except in rare cases — US District Judge P Kevin Castel issued a 15-page order on Monday prohibiting ICE agents from arresting immigrants at three federal courthouses in lower Manhattan (26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick Street, and 290 Broadway) except under exceptional circumstances or when public safety is threatened. The ruling responded to a lawsuit by the ACLU, New York Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road NY, and other groups. Castel found a strong governmental interest in immigration enforcement must be balanced against individuals' right to attend removal proceedings and pursue asylum claims without fear of arrest. The judge noted the Trump administration had recently reversed its position on whether 2025 policies applied to immigration courts, and he corrected what he called a "clear error" after prosecutors apologized for material misstatements to the court.

Supporting reports

• ICE officer Christian Castro charged with assault in shooting of Venezuelan man Julio Sosa-Celis — Christian Castro, a 52-year-old ICE officer, was charged with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty for shooting Venezuelan national Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg on January 14, 2026, during the Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge" immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Video evidence contradicted federal claims that Sosa-Celis attacked agents with a shovel; he had dropped the weapon and was running inside when shot. Federal prosecutors had initially charged Sosa-Celis but dropped charges after evidence proved inconsistent with testimony.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed Executive Order 14406 directing Treasury and financial regulators to issue guidance on detecting and preventing financial services to undocumented immigrants and their employers. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14406 on May 19, 2026, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to issue an advisory within 60 days identifying suspicious financial activity patterns associated with undocumented workers and employers, including payroll tax evasion, use of foreign identity documents, and structuring. The order also directs the Treasury and Federal functional financial regulators to propose and consider changes to Bank Secrecy Act regulations to strengthen customer due diligence and identification requirements, with particular attention to immigration status and work authorization as risk factors. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is directed to clarify that potential deportation and wage loss are factors affecting ability-to-repay determinations for non-work-authorized borrowers.
• Trump issued executive order directing financial regulators to strengthen customer due diligence and credit underwriting standards targeting non-work-authorized immigrants. — President Trump signed "Restoring Integrity to America's Financial System" on May 19, 2026, directing the Treasury Secretary to issue an advisory within 60 days identifying suspicious financial activity patterns associated with undocumented immigrants and their employers, including payroll tax evasion, use of foreign identity documents, and structuring schemes. The order instructs federal financial regulators to propose regulatory changes strengthening customer identification and due diligence requirements, and directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to clarify that deportation risk and wage loss are factors in credit underwriting for non-work-authorized borrowers. Implementation deadlines range from 60 to 180 days.
• White House issued Executive Order 14406 directing financial regulators to implement immigration-status-based lending restrictions and enhanced due diligence requirements — The White House signed Executive Order 14406 on May 19, 2026, directing the Treasury Secretary and federal financial regulators to issue advisories and propose regulatory changes to the Bank Secrecy Act. The order requires financial institutions to flag accounts held by non-work-authorized immigrants and their employers, treat deportation risk as a credit-underwriting factor, and implement enhanced customer due diligence tied to immigration status. The order states the policy is to "restore integrity" to the financial system by addressing risks posed by "the inadmissible and removable alien population" and cross-border financial activity.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting executive orders on financial system regulation and immigration-linked credit risk — The White House published a fact sheet on May 19, 2026, describing executive orders signed by President Trump. The orders direct the Treasury Secretary and federal financial regulators to issue advisories and propose regulatory changes to strengthen customer identification requirements, address credit risks associated with extending financial services to undocumented immigrants, and prevent denial of banking services based on political or religious beliefs. The fact sheet claims the orders target illicit financial activity, money laundering, and fentanyl trafficking while asserting that extending credit to undocumented immigrants creates systemic banking risks that raise costs for American consumers.

Supporting reports

• Brookings Institution study documents 145,000+ US children separated from detained parents during Trump ICE enforcement surge — The Brookings Institution released a report estimating that over 145,000 US citizen children have experienced parental detention by immigration authorities since Trump's second presidency began in January 2026. The study found approximately 22,000 children lost all co-resident parents, with 36% younger than six years old. The report notes DHS's own count of 18,277 detainees with US citizen children in fiscal 2025 is "almost certainly a substantial undercount." Researchers recommend DHS collect and publicly report accurate data on detained parents and affected children, and ensure affected children receive basic governmental support.