Trump Action Archive

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

• New Jersey federal judge orders Trump administration to explain non-compliance with court orders — US District Judge Michael Farbiarz in New Jersey ordered the Trump administration to explain what procedures are in place to ensure court orders in his district are followed consistently and on time. Farbiarz found that Trump officials failed to meet court-ordered deadlines for bond hearings in immigration court in 12 of roughly 550 cases since December 5, 2025. The judge stated that "Judicial orders should never be violated."
• Federal judge Sykes rules Trump administration violating detention law and contempt of court orders — US District Judge Sunshine Sykes in Riverside, California issued a scathing decision accusing the Trump administration of terrorizing immigrants and recklessly violating federal law through mass deportations and mandatory detention policies. Sykes found the administration had violated her December ruling requiring detainees receive notice of bond eligibility and phone access to attorneys within one hour. She also threw out a September immigration court ruling the administration had cited to justify mandatory detention. The judge noted the administration's failure to comply with multiple court orders nationwide, citing killings of two US citizens (Renée Good and Alex Pretti) by ICE and border patrol during protests in Minnesota.
• Minnesota federal judge finds Trump administration lawyer in contempt of court — A federal judge in Minnesota found a Trump administration lawyer in contempt of court on Wednesday for the government's failure to comply with an order to return identification documents to an immigrant the judge had ordered released. This represents a rare judicial sanction against the administration for non-compliance with court orders in immigration cases.
• Trump administration reverses bond hearing access for detained immigrants — The Trump administration reversed the longstanding practice under past administrations that allowed people with no criminal record to request bond hearings before an immigration judge while their cases proceeded through immigration court. With access to bond hearings cut off, immigrants by the thousands have filed separate petitions in federal court seeking release. More than 20,000 habeas corpus cases have been filed since Trump's inauguration, according to federal court records analyzed by the Associated Press.

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

• Florida AG James Uthmeier proposes accelerating child labor in response to deportation-driven workforce shortage — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier addressed labor shortages at construction sites and farms caused by mass deportations by proposing to push high school students into the workforce earlier. Uthmeier cited legislation passed the previous year to expedite student entry into job sites. Immigration attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick criticized the proposal, noting that construction labor requires skill and that teenagers would not be an adequate substitute for deported workers.
• Florida Attorney General Uthmeier proposed workforce development alternatives — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier responded to the Wall Street Journal editorial about labor shortages by explaining on Fox Business that the Republican Party expects to replace undocumented workers with young Americans through expanded state college programs, trade schools, and apprenticeships. He cited legislation passed to help high school students enter job sites more quickly.
• Florida employers report labor shortages following immigration enforcement law — Following Florida's May 2023 law requiring employers with 25 or more employees to confirm workers are in the U.S. legally, employers are now struggling to find workers they can employ legally. The Wall Street Journal reported that foreign farmworkers and construction workers left the state, and employers cannot find enough Americans willing to work in agriculture or construction even at attractive wages.

Supporting reports

• Homeland Security Secretary traveled in $70 million luxury aircraft — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her affair partner Corey Lewandowski travel in a $70 million luxury Boeing 737 MAX jet equipped with a private cabin, according to Wall Street Journal reporting. The use of such an aircraft for personal travel by a cabinet secretary raises questions about misuse of government resources.
• Department of Homeland Security plans $70 million luxury jet purchase for Kristi Noem — The Department of Homeland Security announced plans to purchase a $70 million luxury jet for Secretary Kristi Noem's travel. The aircraft features a bedroom with queen bed, showers, kitchen, four large flat-screen televisions, and a bar. Officials are attempting to justify the purchase as necessary for deportation operations and cabinet travel.
• DHS began leasing luxury Boeing 737 Max 8 jet for deportations and Cabinet travel — The Department of Homeland Security recently began leasing a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft described as a luxury jet, equipped with a bedroom with queen bed, showers, kitchen, four large flat-screen televisions, and a bar. ICE is now seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget to purchase the aircraft for $70 million, stating it would be used for deportations and Cabinet officials' travel. The aircraft features interior design by renowned New York designer Peter Marino. Secretary Kristi Noem recently flew on the jet for a trip to Tel Aviv. Some ICE officials initially deemed the aircraft too luxurious for use in immigrant deportations.

Supporting reports

• Choctaw Nation bans warehouse sale to DHS — The Choctaw Nation issued an ordinance in early 2026 banning the sale of an empty distribution center near tribal lands to the Department of Homeland Security. The action prevents the federal government from acquiring the facility for use as an immigration detention center.
• New York City officials call for cancellation of ICE parking contract — Elected officials in New York City called on a local park trust in early 2026 to immediately cancel a contract allowing ICE agents to park vehicles in a Manhattan garage. The park trust stated it would not renew the contract when it expires in summer 2026, responding to official pressure to terminate the arrangement.
• Philadelphia proposes ICE Out legislation package — Philadelphia city councilors proposed comprehensive "ICE Out" legislation in early 2026 to end or restrict city collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security. The proposed package would prohibit the city from entering into contracts with DHS and prohibit agents from entering city-owned spaces, similar to ICE-free zone designations in other cities.
• Minneapolis city council withholds liquor licenses from ICE-housing hotels — The Minneapolis city council withheld liquor license renewals for hotels housing ICE agents in early 2026, using municipal licensing authority as leverage to discourage federal immigration enforcement operations within the city. The action represents a direct economic pressure tactic against businesses supporting ICE operations.
• Ashland Virginia blocks DHS warehouse purchase for detention center — More than 100 protesters in Ashland, Virginia successfully lobbied the local board of commissioners against a Department of Homeland Security offer to purchase a warehouse for conversion into an immigration detention center. Following the community opposition, the warehouse's billionaire Canadian owner announced rejection of the DHS offer, blocking the facility's acquisition.
• Kansas City Missouri port authority cuts ties to discourage warehouse sale — The Kansas City, Missouri port authority moved to cut ties with a local company in early 2026 to discourage the city's plans to sell a warehouse to the Department of Homeland Security for use as a detention center. The city council subsequently passed a years-long moratorium on creation of new detention centers.

Supporting reports

• White House issues promotional release on Presidents' Day celebrating claimed economic and security achievements — The White House issued a fact sheet on Presidents' Day asserting that President Trump's second-term policies have produced a "Golden Age" marked by record low inflation, soaring stock markets, strengthened military, enhanced law enforcement, a "100% secure" border, and record-low violent crime. The document claims core inflation has dropped to its lowest level in nearly five years, workers have gained nearly $1,400 in real earnings, major stock indices have hit all-time highs, defense spending has reached record levels, and violent crime has fallen 19% year-over-year with the murder rate at its lowest in 125 years.
• White House issues fact sheet on Trump Georgia visit, claiming economic and public safety gains — The White House published a fact sheet accompanying President Trump's visit to Georgia on February 19, 2026. The document claims Georgia families are benefiting from lower energy costs (gas prices down 40% from Biden-era highs), tax relief ($3,086 average savings), wage growth projections, rural healthcare investment ($218 million), ICE enforcement actions against undocumented immigrants, home price declines, disaster recovery funding ($1 billion), and corporate investment commitments (Japan $600 million synthetic diamond facility, AWS $11 billion, Salesforce $15 million, JS Link $223 million).
• White House issues fact sheet on housing affordability and homeownership initiatives — The White House issued a fact sheet claiming that mortgage rates have fallen to multi-year lows under Trump administration policies, citing data from Freddie Mac and the National Association of Realtors. The document states that President Trump directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities, took executive action to prohibit large institutional investors from buying single-family homes, barred undocumented immigrants from accessing taxpayer-backed mortgages, and eliminated the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule.
• White House issues fact sheet attributing economic growth to Trump agenda and blaming Democratic shutdown for GDP reduction — The White House issued a fact sheet claiming that President Trump's economic policies drove robust 2025 GDP growth despite a 43-day government shutdown attributed to Democrats. The document cites administration officials and external economists estimating the shutdown reduced GDP growth by 1.0–2.0 percentage points, and asserts that without the shutdown, growth would have been higher. The fact sheet frames the shutdown as deliberate Democratic harm and positions Trump's tax cuts, deregulation, tariffs, and energy policies as drivers of recovery.

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

• Home builders warn Trump on immigration enforcement — Home builders warned Trump that aggressive immigration enforcement efforts are hurting their industry and could harm GOP candidates in upcoming elections. Construction executives held multiple meetings over the past month with the White House and Congress to discuss how immigration enforcement at job sites and in communities is scaring away employees and making home construction more expensive in a market desperate for new supply. The construction industry represents one of the clearest examples of how the president's mass deportation agenda clashes with his economic goals of bringing down prices and political aims of keeping control of Congress.

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.

Supporting reports

• Democratic lawmakers demand Trump administration accounting on immigration enforcement impacts on childcare workforce — Forty-eight Democratic lawmakers, led by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth and Representative Mike Quigley, sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services demanding answers about how Trump's immigration policies are exacerbating childcare shortages and costs. The letter cites terminations of temporary protected status (TPS), elimination of lawful immigration pathways, and ICE raids at childcare facilities. About 20% of the US childcare workforce are immigrants—as high as 70% in some regions—and Trump's policies could reduce the workforce by an estimated 15%. The letter documents specific cases of childcare workers detained or losing work authorization, and notes Trump revoked protections for childcare facilities from ICE raids.
• Congress members demand accountability for Palestinian-American teen's detention in Israel — Fifteen members of Congress, led by Senator Peter Welch, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding accountability for the nine-month detention of Mohammed Ibrahim, a Palestinian-American teenager arrested in the West Bank in February 2025. Ibrahim was released in November 2025 after a guilty plea; he reported severe mistreatment including beatings, pepper-spraying, and inadequate food and medical care. The lawmakers posed three questions to Rubio about State Department engagement, investigation requests, and accountability for Israeli personnel.
• Congressional letter to DHS and ICE seeking release of detained double amputee — Representative Pramila Jayapal and 20 members of Congress sent a two-page letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons on February 17, 2026, requesting the release of Rodney Taylor from Stewart detention center in Georgia. Taylor, a 47-year-old double amputee barber, has been detained since January 2025 on the basis of a burglary conviction from his teenage years for which Georgia pardoned him in 2010. The letter cites deteriorating health conditions, inadequate prosthetic care, and inhumane detention conditions including moldy showers and forced meal retrieval despite mobility limitations.

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.

Supporting reports

• DHS/ICE announces $38.3bn warehouse-to-detention-center conversion plan across 24 facilities — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disclosed plans to acquire and retrofit 24 warehouses nationwide into immigration detention centers with capacity for tens of thousands of detainees. The plan includes 16 regional processing centers (1,000–1,500 capacity each) and 8 large-scale facilities (7,000–10,000 capacity) designated as "primary locations" for deportations. DHS estimates $158m to retrofit a Merrimack, New Hampshire facility and $146m to operate it over three years. The broader $38.3bn effort is intended to support mass deportations and is funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
• ICE expands facilities across United States — ICE has quietly and aggressively expanded across the United States in recent months, buying or leasing new facilities in nearly every state, many outside the country's largest cities but concentrated in Texas. DHS asked the General Services Administration to ignore competitive bidding rules and hide lease listings citing "national security concerns."
• ICE plans $38.3 billion detention center expansion — ICE officials are planning to spend $38.3 billion to buy warehouses across the country. ICE will retrofit sixteen of them to become processing centers that can hold 1,000 to 1,500 detainees at a time before funneling them into eight megacenters that can hold up to 10,000 detainees each.

Supporting reports

• CoreCivic revenue from ICE contracts more than doubled in 2025 — CoreCivic, a private prison company, reported that its revenue from ICE contracts more than doubled in 2025, rising from $120.3 million to $244.7 million. The company's overall profits spiked to $116.5 million, a 70% increase from the previous year. During a quarterly earnings call, investors expressed concern that ICE had not detained as many immigrants as expected, with detention levels at approximately 70,000 rather than the anticipated 100,000. CoreCivic projects even higher revenue for 2026.

Supporting reports

• Democrats blocked Republican funding proposals to demand enforcement reforms — On Thursday, February 13, Democratic lawmakers blocked Republican attempts to pass either full-year DHS funding or a two-week extension without including immigration enforcement reforms. The blocked proposals would have funded the department without addressing Democratic demands for body cameras, visible identification numbers, warrant requirements for arrests on private property, and tightened use-of-force policies. Congress then recessed until February 23, leaving the impasse unresolved.
• Department of Homeland Security partial shutdown begins after Senate fails to pass appropriations bill — The Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown after the Senate failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to pass the DHS appropriations bill on Thursday, February 13. Democrats blocked funding, demanding new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations following the fatal shooting of two civilians in Minneapolis. The shutdown affects TSA, Secret Service, and FEMA operations, with TSA workers expected to continue without pay and many FEMA workers furloughed. ICE and CBP operations are expected to continue due to existing funding.
• Senate Democrats block DHS funding bill over ICE reform demands — Senate Democrats voted 52-47 on February 13 to block a House-passed Department of Homeland Security funding package, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster. The blockade was triggered by the Trump administration's refusal to implement ICE reforms demanded by Democrats, including mandatory body cameras, agent identification, and restrictions on operations near schools, courts, and polling places. The shutdown will affect TSA, FEMA, and Coast Guard but leave ICE largely unaffected due to prior $75 billion appropriation. Democrats cited recent shooting deaths of two Minneapolis residents by federal agents as catalyst for their stance.
• Senate rejects DHS appropriations bill in party-line vote — The Senate voted 52-47 along party lines to reject the DHS appropriations bill on Thursday, February 13, with only Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania supporting it. Democrats blocked the measure and rejected a Republican proposal for a two-week temporary funding extension, demanding new restrictions on ICE and CBP operations in response to the fatal shooting of civilians in Minneapolis. Republicans resisted key Democratic proposals, including requirements for judicial warrants before agents enter private property, though they agreed to body cameras for agents.
• Senate Democrats block DHS funding over ICE and Border Patrol reform demands — Senate Democrats, in the minority, used the filibuster to block a DHS funding measure passed by the House, demanding reforms to ICE and Border Patrol operations. Their demands include requiring judicial warrants for home entries, visible agent identification, an end to racial profiling and raids of sensitive sites, use-of-force policies, coordination with state and local authorities, detention facility standards, body camera restrictions, and standardized uniforms. The partial shutdown will defund most DHS agencies except ICE and Border Patrol, which received dedicated funding in the July 2025 budget reconciliation bill.
• DHS funding lapsed at midnight with no legislative action — DHS funding expired at midnight with no eleventh-hour legislative action. Both the House and Senate left town without voting on a DHS funding bill, with senators departing for pre-planned travel including the Munich Security Conference and not scheduled to return for 10 days. This left 260,000 DHS employees without funding. Senate Democrats remained united in their demands regarding ICE, with only Sen. John Fetterman joining Republicans on a failed procedural vote.

Supporting reports

• Kristi Noem calls for SAVE America Act passage — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters in Arizona that Congress must pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act to secure U.S. elections. She claimed noncitizens are voting for Democrats and enabling them to win elections, but when asked for an example of noncitizen voting, she said she could not point to a case but assumed it happened. The bill would require voters to show either a passport or birth certificate with matching names to register and would require states to purge voting rolls every month.
• Kristi Noem held press conference on election integrity with unsubstantiated claims — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem held a press conference in Arizona regarding "election integrity" and DHS's potential role in elections if the SAVE Act passes. When asked for examples of voter fraud in Arizona, she responded "I'm sure there's many of them" without providing any. She also addressed a question about CBP shooting down a party balloon it mistook for a drone with a laser, citing a "joint agency task force" but providing no substantive explanation for the lack of FAA coordination.

Supporting reports

• DHS uses SAVE tool to identify noncitizen voters — DHS has been using an electronic tool called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE), previously used to check eligibility for public benefits, to find noncitizen voters in a database made up of confidential data from different government agencies. That information includes confidential data from the Social Security Administration, accessed by the Department of Government Efficiency. Republican secretaries of state in twenty-seven states have agreed to use SAVE to check their voter rolls.
• SAVE system makes persistent errors identifying naturalized citizens — The SAVE system makes "persistent mistakes," frequently assessing naturalized citizens as noncitizens. The system automatically refers those individuals to DHS for possible criminal investigation, and in certain states, individuals have had to prove their citizenship to be reinstated as voters. County clerk Brianna Lennon of Boone County, Missouri, stated the system is "not ready for prime time" and she will not risk the security and constitutional rights of voters for bad data.
• ProPublica reported federal voter-verification tool misidentifies citizens as noncitizens — ProPublica reported that a federal tool designed to identify noncitizens on voter rolls is consistently and incorrectly marking U.S. citizens as noncitizens, particularly those born outside the United States. This tool is the same system that states would be required to use under the GOP's SAVE America Act, which passed the House this week. Research from Kansas showed that when a similar version was implemented, approximately 40 ineligible voters were purged while 31,000 legal citizens were prevented from registering—a ratio of 775 legal voters lost for every 1 ineligible voter.

Supporting reports

• 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

• DOJ prosecutors dismiss assault charges against Venezuelan men in Minneapolis ICE case after video evidence contradicts officer testimony — Minneapolis federal prosecutors dismissed felony assault charges against two Venezuelan men accused of attacking an ICE officer on January 14, 2026. The DHS had initially described them as "violent criminal illegal aliens" who attacked with a snow shovel and broom handle. On February 12, prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss with prejudice after "newly discovered evidence" (video footage) proved officer statements were false. ICE director Todd Lyons acknowledged that "sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements" and opened an investigation into possible perjury.
• Justice Department drops charges against men arrested by ICE — The Justice Department dropped charges against Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, who were arrested by ICE agents in Minneapolis and charged with assault on a federal officer. DHS had claimed the men attacked an agent with a snow shovel and broom handle, but video surveillance evidence contradicted the agent's account. The DOJ stated "newly discovered evidence" suggested the allegations were false.
• ICE officers admitted to perjury in criminal case — ICE Director Todd Lyons announced that a joint ICE-DOJ review of video evidence revealed two ICE officers made untruthful statements under oath in an investigation that led to criminal charges against two innocent men. Both officers were placed on administrative leave. The U.S. Attorney's Office is investigating the false statements, and the officers may face termination and criminal prosecution. The DOJ subsequently filed a motion to dismiss all charges, citing newly discovered evidence materially inconsistent with the complaint affidavit.

Supporting reports

• Labor Department revised 2025 job creation figures downward by nearly one million — The Labor Department released revised data for 2025 showing that nearly one million fewer jobs were created than originally reported. Four months previously described as job gains were revised into job losses. Overall, 2025 job creation was essentially flat when accounting for downward revisions. The administration had been touting January 2026 preliminary jobs numbers as positive, but the pattern of overly optimistic initial reports followed by significant downward revisions undermines confidence in current economic claims.
• White House issues fact sheet on January 2026 jobs report — The White House issued a fact sheet claiming that January 2026 job growth exceeded economist expectations, with 172,000 private sector jobs added and 42,000 government jobs shed, bringing unemployment to 4.3%. The document states that federal employment has declined to its lowest level since 1966 and that average weekly earnings rose 0.7% in January. It attributes these figures to President Trump's economic policies and characterizes the labor market under the previous administration as weaker than initially reported.
• DHS claims fewer than 14% of arrested immigrants had violent crime records — Documents from DHS itself show that fewer than 14% of the nearly 400,000 immigrants arrested in Trump's first year had either convictions or charges for violent crimes, with fewer than 2% either charged with or convicted of homicide or sexual assault. This contradicts the administration's claims that ICE is prioritizing removal of immigrants with violent crime records.
• White House issues fact sheet claiming inflation victory and real wage gains — The White House published a fact sheet asserting that President Trump has "defeated" inflation, citing a January 2026 Consumer Price Index report showing year-over-year inflation at 2.4% and claiming real average hourly earnings rose 1.2% over the past year, with cumulative real wage gains of $1,400 in Trump's first year. The document attributes price declines in beef, eggs, coffee, energy, and gasoline to Trump's policies and references drug pricing reforms and a "Great Healthcare Plan."

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.

Supporting reports

• 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

• Federal judge blocks California ICE mask ban, upholds identification requirement — On February 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder issued a preliminary injunction blocking California's law banning facial coverings by federal immigration agents, ruling the mask ban discriminated against the federal government because it did not apply equally to state and local law enforcement. However, Snyder upheld a separate California law requiring both federal and state officers to display clear identification and badge numbers. The Trump administration had sued in November 2026 arguing the mask ban violated the Constitution and threatened officer safety. California state senator Scott Weiner announced plans to introduce revised legislation applying the mask ban to all law enforcement agencies.