Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• White House posted AI-altered image of arrested protester — The White House posted an image of arrested protester Nekima Levy-Armstrong on social media following her arrest. The image was altered using artificial intelligence to show her crying hysterically, whereas the original photograph from the scene showed her appearing defiant. The discrepancy was quickly noticed by observers.
• White House posted AI-generated images of arrested Minneapolis protesters — The White House posted what appear to be AI-generated images connected to ongoing arrests of protesters in Minneapolis, including an AI-altered image depicting a protest organizer with tears streaming down her face. The original image shows no such thing. This represents a deeply unethical abuse of federal government power, effectively manufacturing visual narratives to intimidate, discredit, or prejudice individuals before they have had their day in court.
• White House posts digitally altered image of arrested activist on social media — The White House posted a digitally altered photograph of activist Nekima Levy Armstrong on social media, manipulating the image to falsely portray her as crying and darkening her skin. The caption falsely described her as an "arrested far-left agitator" who "orchestrated church riots." The deception was uncovered by the Guardian and other news outlets after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had posted the original, unaltered image showing Armstrong composed and dignified.
• White House posts digitally altered image of arrested protester — The White House posted a digitally altered photograph of Nekima Levy Armstrong, arrested during an ICE protest disruption in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 23, 2026. The altered image depicted her crying, whereas the original showed her composed. Guardian analysis confirmed the images were identical except for digital manipulation of her facial expression and apparent skin tone. The White House did not deny the alteration when questioned, instead responding with a statement defending law enforcement.
• White House posts doctored photo of arrested Minneapolis activist — The White House posted a digitally altered photograph of Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Black woman arrested during a protest at a Minneapolis church on January 23, 2026. The image darkened her skin tone and added tears to her face. Armstrong is one of three people arrested in connection with the disruptive protest. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had posted unaltered images of the other two defendants, but only Armstrong's image was manipulated by the White House. Legal experts say the act may be raised in court but is unlikely to derail the case entirely.

Supporting reports

• White House issues promotional fact sheet claiming 365 achievements in first year — The White House published a comprehensive fact sheet titled "365 Wins in 365 Days" on January 20, 2026, claiming accomplishments across immigration enforcement, public safety, economic policy, military modernization, international diplomacy, and domestic governance. The document asserts outcomes including negative net migration, record homicide declines, GDP growth, trade agreements, military investments, and numerous regulatory actions. The fact sheet is promotional in character and restates or summarizes executive orders, proclamations, and memoranda issued separately over the preceding year.

Supporting reports

• DOJ investigates Renee Good's widow for allegedly impeding ICE agent — The Justice Department is investigating Becca Good, the widow of Renee Good, for allegedly impeding ICE agent Jonathan Ross by taunting him moments before he fatally shot her. Deputy Attorney General Blanche promised to "prosecute anyone attacking or obstructing" ICE officers. The investigation of the victim's widow occurs while the DOJ refuses to investigate the fatal shooting itself, creating an asymmetry in which the federal government pursues the family of the deceased but not the agent who killed her.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents deny attorneys access to detainees in Minneapolis — According to ABC News, immigration attorneys reported that ICE agents physically restricted their access to clients detained at the federal building in Minneapolis, the site of daily protests. One attorney stated she was denied entry to the attorney visitation room for approximately four hours while attempting to see a client held for multiple days. A DHS spokesperson denied the allegations, claiming all detainees have opportunities to communicate with lawyers and receive full due process.

Supporting reports

• ICE warrantless detention and forced transport of US citizen ChongLy Thao in St Paul, Minnesota — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents broke down the door of ChongLy "Scott" Thao's home in St Paul without a warrant, dragged him into the street in sub-freezing conditions, and forcibly transported him for approximately two hours before returning him. Thao is a naturalized US citizen and Hmong American. Local Ramsey County authorities opened an investigation into the incident as a possible kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment. DHS claimed agents were executing a warrant targeting alleged sexual predators but acknowledged Thao refused fingerprinting and facial identification.
• ICE agents detain US citizen without warrant in Minnesota home, remove him in underwear in subfreezing weather — Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents forced entry into ChongLy "Scott" Thao's St Paul, Minnesota home without a warrant, pointed guns at his family, and detained him despite his US citizenship. Agents removed Thao from his home in only underwear and sandals in subfreezing conditions while his four-year-old grandson watched. After approximately one to two hours, agents realized Thao was a US citizen with no criminal record and returned him home without apology. DHS claimed the operation targeted two convicted sex offenders allegedly living at the residence; Thao's family disputes this account and states only family members reside there.
• Brooklyn Park police chief reported ICE civil rights violations and targeting of officers of color — Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, police chief Mark Bruley reported to media that police were receiving repeated complaints about civil rights violations by ICE agents. He recounted that ICE agents stopped an off-duty police officer of color, demanded her paperwork despite her being a U.S. citizen, held her at gunpoint, knocked her phone from her hand when she attempted to film, and only left when she identified herself as a police officer. Bruley stated that if this was happening to officers, he feared far worse was occurring to community members daily.
• ICE conducts warrantless search and detention of U.S. citizen Scott Thao in Minnesota — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents broke into the home of U.S. citizen ChongLy "Scott" Thao without a warrant on Sunday, held him at gunpoint, marched him outside in subfreezing weather wearing only sandals and underwear, detained him for an hour or two, and then returned him to his home. ICE subsequently falsely claimed that members of his family are on the registered sex offender list.

Supporting reports

• Deputy AG Todd Blanche declined to investigate ICE shooting — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on Fox News that the FBI would not investigate the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, saying the incident had been reviewed by millions of Americans because it was recorded and that the DOJ would not "bow to pressure" to investigate.
• Attorney General Bondi issues warning to Minnesota protesters without addressing ICE shooting — Attorney General Pam Bondi posted a statement that made no mention of Renee Good's death but warned Minnesota protesters that "obstructing, impeding, or attacking federal law enforcement is a federal crime." The statement came as federal prosecutors in Minnesota and Washington DC resigned in protest over the DOJ's decision not to investigate the fatal ICE shooting. The warning appears designed to chill protest and dissent while the department simultaneously investigates the victim's widow for allegedly impeding the ICE agent.
• DOJ declines to investigate ICE agent's fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Sunday that the Justice Department is "not investigating" the January 7, 2026 fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. Blanche stated the department does not investigate "every time an officer is forced to defend himself" and will not "bow to pressure from the media" or politicians. This contrasts sharply with the 2020 Trump DOJ's immediate criminal investigation into George Floyd's death by Minneapolis police, which led to four officers' federal convictions in 2022. Forensic analysis contradicts claims that Good "ran over" the agent.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents conduct racial profiling stops of US citizens and legal residents across multiple states — Following the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, ICE and US Customs and Border Protection agents have conducted stops and surveillance of US citizens and lawful permanent residents in California, Nebraska, Florida, Minnesota, and other states, with multiple individuals reporting that the encounters were based on racial profiling. Incidents include stops in parks, traffic stops, and sustained surveillance. The administration deployed approximately 2,000 ICE officers and 800 CBP agents to Minneapolis, focused enforcement on Somali communities, and announced plans to end temporary protected status for Somalis. A September 2025 Supreme Court ruling permitted agents to consider race or ethnicity as a factor in enforcement decisions.
• Racial profiling stop of Joaquin and Gloria Espinoza by ICE agents in Minneapolis suburbs — On Monday, January 20, 2026, ICE agents stopped a vehicle driven by Joaquin with passenger Gloria Espinoza on a quiet street in Minneapolis suburbs. Both are U.S. citizens for more than 30 years. Espinoza reported that agents appeared to have no cause for the stop other than the color of their skin and that officers taunted them while conducting background checks. Civilian observers arrived in seven vehicles, honking horns and documenting the interaction on video. The agents eventually released the couple without arrest.

Supporting reports

• Trump intensified ICE and Border Patrol actions across Minnesota — The Trump administration intensified ICE and Border Patrol enforcement actions across Minnesota, stoking chaos rather than deescalating the situation. The intensified enforcement occurred amid threats to further militarize federal operations in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Supporting reports

• ICE deported man in vegetative state who died shortly after — The Guardian reported that ICE deported a man in a vegetative state after his health deteriorated rapidly while in custody. Randall Gamboa Esquivel, a 52-year-old from Costa Rica, was deported in an air ambulance after spending nearly 10 months in detention and died in October 2025 after arriving in his home country.

Supporting reports

• Rightwing influencers harass Somali businesses and nonprofits — Rightwing influencers and content creators have descended on Minneapolis, amplifying the president's xenophobic messages about Somali immigrants. In several instances, they have harassed Somali businesses, nonprofits, and childcare centers, accusing them of fraud despite these entities not being connected to the federal fraud investigation.

Supporting reports

• Democratic Congress members hold field hearing on ICE enforcement surge and deadly use of force in Minnesota — On Friday, January 17, Democratic Congress members, senators, and state officials held an "accountability" field hearing in St Paul, Minnesota, titled "Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump's deadly assault on Minnesota," condemning ICE enforcement actions and federal agents' use of force. The hearing followed the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer on January 8, ongoing protests, and escalating ICE raids and traffic stops. Congresswoman Betty McCollum warned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to preserve records for future investigation and subpoena.

Supporting reports

• Trump calls Somali immigrants "garbage" and threatens to strip citizenship — In December, after a cabinet meeting, President Trump called Somali immigrants "garbage" and denounced a fraud scandal in Minneapolis involving social services run by Somalis. Subsequently, he stated his administration intended to strip some naturalized Somali Americans of their US citizenship.

Supporting reports

• ICE agent kills Renee Good, a US citizen, in Minneapolis — An ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a US citizen, in Minneapolis in early January 2026. The killing prompted widespread protests throughout Minnesota. In response, President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy US troops to suppress demonstrators, and the Department of Justice opened an investigation into Minnesota officials including Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, alleging they conspired to impede federal immigration agents.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration deploys 3,000 federal ICE agents to Minnesota — The Trump administration mobilized approximately 3,000 federal ICE agents to Minnesota, a force that outnumbers the Minneapolis police department five to one. Armed, masked agents have been arresting people at morning commutes, grocery stores, churches, and schools. The Department of Homeland Security called it the largest operation in the agency's history. Agents have been operating since early December, with a major surge in January following fraud investigations and the killing of Renee Good.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents conduct operations inside Hennepin County Medical Center — ICE agents have been operating inside Hennepin County Medical Center for at least one week, according to Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley. Healthcare workers reported that agents shackled patients' feet. The county is working to determine how to remove the agents and is reassessing its policies regarding federal law enforcement presence in medical facilities.

Supporting reports

• ICE mass enforcement operation in Minnesota arrests 2,400+ immigrants, including legal residents and refugees — The Trump administration deployed approximately 3,000 federal immigration agents to Minnesota in what it described as its largest enforcement operation to date. More than 2,400 people were arrested in recent weeks, many swiftly transferred to out-of-state detention centers or removed from the country. The Guardian confirmed that several refugees with legal status and individuals with valid visas were arrested. Families were separated during arrests at homes, workplaces, schools, and public spaces. Two documented cases involved Paulo Sosa Garcia and Ramona Cecilia Silva, arrested while driving to work after their legal residency case had been approved five days prior, and Tomas Martinez Gregorio, detained while being driven to his son's medical appointment.
• ICE worksite raids result in mass arrests without due process — Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted worksite raids in major US cities including Los Angeles, Portland, and Chicago, resulting in the arrest of thousands of immigrants. The article characterizes these arrests as occurring "without due process" and notes they triggered massive protests demanding federal agents leave communities and be held accountable for alleged human rights abuses. These raids occurred in the context of Trump's 2025 immigration crackdown and contributed to the broader outcry that followed Good's death.

Supporting reports

• Federal appeals court overturns detention challenge ruling in Mahmoud Khalil case — A federal appeals court overturned the ruling in the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate arrested in March 2025 for pro-Palestinian activism. The reversal opens the door to his eventual re-detention. Khalil, whose initial arrest was cited as the first target of Trump's effort to deport noncitizen students with pro-Palestinian views, plans to appeal the appellate decision.
• US appeals court reverses lower court decision freeing Palestinian activist from ICE detention — A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed a lower court's order releasing Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student, from immigration detention. The court found that the district court lacked jurisdiction to hear Khalil's habeas petition, ruling that immigration courts—not federal courts—have authority over such claims. Khalil had been detained in March 2025 after the Trump administration argued his pro-Palestinian activism constituted a threat to US foreign policy. He was released in June 2025 but now faces potential re-detention.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration deploys largest ICE operation in DHS history to Minnesota — The Trump administration has deployed approximately 3,000 immigration officers to Minnesota or is in the process of deploying them as part of what federal officials describe as the largest operation in Department of Homeland Security history. The massive militarized operation has transformed daily life in the region, prompting residents to organize volunteer patrols to monitor ICE activity, document arrests, provide legal aid, and deliver food to families fearful of leaving their homes. The operation has created a climate of fear affecting entire communities, including disruption of children's school attendance and normal civic life.

Supporting reports

• Minnesota Governor Walz calls for documentation of ICE "atrocities" and promises future prosecution — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a public call to action urging state residents to record ICE enforcement activities, characterizing them as "atrocities" and "organized brutality" by the federal government. Walz stated that ICE agents are "going door-to-door, ordering people to point out where their neighbors of color live" and called on Minnesotans to "carry your phone at all times" to establish an evidentiary record. He promised that "accountability is coming, in the voting booth and in court," signaling intent to pursue legal action against federal agents and the administration.
• Governor Tim Walz described federal immigration enforcement as organized brutality — Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) stated on MSNBC that federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota constitute organized brutality and a campaign against the people of the state. Walz described agents pulling over people indiscriminately including U.S. citizens, demanding papers at grocery stores and bus stops, breaking windows, dragging pregnant women, and placing people in unmarked vans without warning or due process. Walz referenced Trump's online threat of "retribution and reckoning" against Minnesota for voting against him three times.
• Minnesota Governor Walz appeals to Trump to reduce tensions — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appealed directly to President Trump on social media, asking him to "turn the temperature down. Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are." Walz also appealed to Minnesotans not to provide the administration an excuse to send in troops, stating "We can—we must—speak out loudly, urgently, but also peacefully. We cannot fan the flames of chaos."
• Governor Walz appeals to Trump to de-escalate tensions — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz publicly appealed to President Trump to reduce tensions and avoid sending in federal troops, urging citizens to speak out peacefully against the administration's actions.
• Minnesota Governor Walz calls for documentation of ICE enforcement — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz asked Minnesotans to document ICE enforcement activities, stating they have "an absolute right to peacefully film ICE agents as they conduct these activities" and called for creation of "a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans" to establish a record and bank evidence for future prosecution.

Supporting reports

• ACLU and attorneys file class-action lawsuit against Trump administration for alleged racial profiling by ICE in Minneapolis — On 15 January 2026, the ACLU and other attorneys filed a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging that ICE agents engaged in racial profiling and unlawful arrest of three Minnesotans and others in the Minneapolis area. The lawsuit was filed amid a broader pattern of reported targeting of Latino and Somali communities by federal agents deployed to the region. One plaintiff, a US citizen, reported being stopped by masked ICE agents while walking to lunch; in another incident, ICE officers asked people of color for documentation of legal status while they charged electric vehicles.
• Minnesota, Minneapolis, and Saint Paul sue to halt Operation Metro Surge — The states of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul filed lawsuits seeking to halt Operation Metro Surge, the federal ICE deployment of approximately 2,000 agents to the Twin Cities area. The legal action challenged the scope and conduct of the federal enforcement operation. The ACLU filed a separate federal case alleging unconstitutional stops, detentions, and racial profiling by ICE agents conducting the operation.
• ACLU files lawsuit against Trump administration alleging racial profiling and unlawful arrests by ICE in Minnesota — The American Civil Liberties Union filed a 72-page lawsuit on January 16, 2026, against the Trump administration, naming the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants. The suit alleges that federal immigration agents in Minnesota have engaged in systematic racial profiling and unlawful arrests targeting Somali and Latino communities, including U.S. citizens. The lawsuit documents cases of detained citizens who were not asked about their citizenship status, were denied basic rights, and were subjected to violence, including pepper-spraying of a plaintiff recording from a public sidewalk.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents shoot Julio Sosa Celis during traffic stop in Minneapolis — Two ICE deportation officers attempted to stop a vehicle in Minneapolis driven by Alfredo Aljorna, a Venezuelan national. After a brief chase and crash, Aljorna fled to an apartment building where his roommate Julio Sosa Celis stood holding a snow shovel. ICE agents claimed a violent three-minute altercation ensued in which they were attacked; one agent fired a single round, striking Sosa Celis in the thigh. Both men were initially charged with assaulting a federal officer.
• Minneapolis releases video contradicting ICE account of January shooting of Venezuelan man — The city of Minneapolis released security camera footage on April 7 showing a January 14 shooting by ICE officers that contradicted the federal agency's initial account. The video depicted a 12-second confrontation between officers and two Venezuelan men (Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis), whereas ICE claimed a three-minute struggle. Federal authorities had access to the video within hours but did not review it until nearly three weeks after charging the men. The charges were subsequently dropped in February, and a criminal investigation was opened into whether the officers lied under oath.
• Federal ICE agent shoots man in leg during Minneapolis enforcement operation — A federal immigration officer shot a man in the leg during a targeted traffic stop in north Minneapolis on Wednesday evening, January 15, 2026. The shooting sparked immediate protests involving several hundred people. DHS claimed the man resisted and attacked the officer, and that two others from a nearby apartment also attacked; the officer fired "defensively." The incident occurred amid an ongoing massive ICE operation in Minnesota involving approximately 3,000 officers, and follows the killing of Renee Nicole Good by a federal agent one week prior. The man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Supporting reports

• ICE detains 17-year-old high school girl and mother in apartment — On January 14, ICE agents forced their way into an apartment and detained a 17-year-old high school girl and her mother. The superintendent reported the agents "pushed their way into" the residence, indicating a warrantless or forcible entry into a private home.
• ICE detention of 17-year-old student and mother in Minneapolis — ICE agents entered an apartment and detained a 17-year-old female student and her mother on January 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. The agents were described as "armed and masked." This detention was part of a broader pattern of ICE enforcement actions targeting minors and families in the Columbia Heights and Minneapolis area.

Supporting reports

• ICE arrest near school campus during student arrival — On January 14, ICE agents arrested a father and his two children two blocks from a post-secondary special education campus just as students were arriving by bus. Bystanders and legal observers used whistles and car horns to alert the neighborhood, creating distress for autistic students sensitive to loud noises.

Supporting reports

• Representative Robin Kelly announces impeachment articles against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem — Democratic Congresswoman Robin Kelly announced she will file articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, charging her with obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. The announcement follows Noem's defense of the fatal shooting of US citizen Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent and her announcement that hundreds more federal agents would be deployed to Minneapolis. Kelly's action represents formal congressional impeachment proceedings against a cabinet officer.
• Rep. Kelly introduced three articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem — Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) introduced three articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, which were backed by nearly 70 other House Democrats. The first article accuses Noem of obstruction of Congress by implementing policies limiting lawmakers from conducting oversight visits at ICE detention facilities. The second accuses her of violating public trust by directing DHS agents to arrest people without warrants, use tear gas against citizens, and ignore due process. The third accuses her of self-dealing by steering a federal contract to a firm run by her friend.
• Democratic lawmakers file articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem — Representative Robin Kelly and 70 House Democrats formally introduced three articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on January 15, 2026, citing obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. The action follows the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Kelly alleges Noem withheld appropriated funds, blocked congressional access to DHS facilities, authorized warrantless arrests and violence against citizens, and misused taxpayer dollars for ICE recruitment advertising and contracts. The Republican-controlled House is unlikely to advance the charges.

Supporting reports

• Congressional Progressive Caucus vows to block DHS funding without ICE reforms — On Tuesday, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, led by Ilhan Omar, declared it will oppose all funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless significant reforms to immigration enforcement are enacted. The declaration follows the fatal shooting of US citizen Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week during a Trump administration surge of federal officers. The caucus demands provisions including bans on masked ICE agents, warrant requirements for arrests, and closure of private detention facilities. The opposition could complicate passage of the homeland security appropriations bill, one of 12 funding bills Congress must pass by month's end.