Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Minneapolis Public Schools announces school closures and virtual learning option — Following ICE agents' entry onto Roosevelt High School grounds on 7 January 2026, Minneapolis Public Schools announced the cancellation of school for two days and offered students the option to attend classes virtually through mid-February. The decision was made in response to the fear and anxiety created by ICE enforcement operations in the community.
• ICE agents enter Minneapolis high school grounds during enforcement surge — On 7 January 2026, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis while conducting enforcement operations in the city. Agents used chemical irritants outside the school and detained a staff member. The school locked its doors to protect students and staff inside. Minneapolis Public Schools subsequently cancelled school for two days and offered virtual learning through mid-February. The incident occurred on the same day an ICE agent shot Renee Good.

Supporting reports

• DHS and Trump administration frame shooting as self-defense and label victim as domestic terrorist — Within hours of the shooting, DHS and ICE officials characterized the incident as lawful self-defense. Trump amplified the narrative by posting that Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over" an ICE officer and that the agent "almost died." DHS leadership immediately began using the phrase "domestic terrorism" to describe Good's actions, establishing a federal narrative before full evidence was released to the public.
• DOJ civil rights division leader amplifies false claim about Renee Good shooting — Harmeet Dhillon, the Republican activist now leading the Justice Department's civil rights division, shared on X (formerly Twitter) Trump's false claim that Renee Good "violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE officer." Forensic analysis by the New York Times, Bellingcat, and other outlets has demonstrated this characterization is false. Dhillon's amplification of disproven claims while heading the civil rights division signals politicization of the office responsible for investigating police and federal law enforcement misconduct.
• Homeland Security Secretary Noem characterized Renee Good's actions as domestic terrorism — Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good on January 7, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly stated that Good had committed an act of "domestic terrorism," claiming she disobeyed officers' commands and attempted to "run a law enforcement officer over." This characterization preceded detailed video analysis that contradicted the account of the shooting.
• DHS Secretary Noem falsely labels Renee Good's death an "act of domestic terrorism" — Hours after the January 7 shooting, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that Renee Good "attempt[ed] to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents" and described the incident as an "act of domestic terrorism." White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller also described the incident as "domestic terrorism" on X. Domestic terrorism is legally defined as a violent act intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or affect government conduct by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping. Good was driving home after taking her 6-year-old son to school, had no criminal record beyond a speeding ticket, and no known links to any terrorist group.
• Trump falsely claims Renee Good ran over ICE agent — On January 7, President Trump posted on Truth Social that Renee Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Witness videos contradict this claim, showing the first shot occurred while Ross stood in front of Good's vehicle as she turned to avoid him, and subsequent shots while he stood to the side. Trump repeated the false claim to New York Times reporters the same day, claiming Good "ran him over," and showed reporters a video he said supported his narrative. When reporters noted the video did not show Good running over Ross, Trump called it a "terrible scene."
• ICE agent shoots and kills Minneapolis resident; Trump administration launches coordinated disinformation campaign — An ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and poet, during a Minneapolis raid on January 8, 2026. Within hours, the Trump administration—including President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—issued a coordinated series of false and misleading statements characterizing Good as a "domestic terrorist" and "violent rioter" who attempted to run over the officer. Video evidence contradicts these claims. Democratic officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, publicly denounced the falsehoods as "verifiably false" and "bullshit."
• Republican Randy Fine justifies killing of civilian by ICE — Republican Randy Fine appeared on television and justified the killing of Renee Good by stating that if Americans "get in the way of the government repelling a foreign invasion" they will "end up just like that lady did yesterday." The statement framed civilian death as an acceptable consequence of federal enforcement actions.
• Department of Homeland Security issued false statement about ICE shooting — The Department of Homeland Security posted a statement on social media claiming that Renee Nicole Good had "weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers" and that the shooting was an act of "domestic terrorism." The statement falsely claimed ICE officers were injured and recovering in the hospital. Video evidence contradicts these claims, showing the vehicle moving away from the officer and no evidence of officers being struck or injured. The statement also blamed "sanctuary politicians" for assaults on law enforcement.
• DHS and administration officials made false public statements about Minneapolis shooting — The Department of Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and President Trump made public statements claiming that federal agent Renee Nicole Good was shot in self-defense, contradicting video evidence from multiple witnesses. The administration's narrative was amplified by Fox News Channel, which shifted its coverage to align with official talking points as video evidence emerged.
• Trump posted false account of ICE shooting — President Trump posted on social media a false account of the shooting, claiming the officer "seems to have shot at her in self defense" and that "it is hard to believe that he is alive" because the woman "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Video evidence shows the vehicle moving away from the officer and no contact between vehicle and officer. Trump blamed the incident on "the Radical Left" and called for Americans to "stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers."
• Vice President Vance made false claims about Minneapolis shooting — Vice President J.D. Vance held a press conference on the shooting and claimed that Renee Nicole Good was part of a "left wing network" and that she "aimed her car at a law enforcement officer and pressed on the accelerator." The New York Times published a slow-motion video analysis the same day demonstrating conclusively that the vehicle was turning away from the officer when he opened fire.
• White House press secretary attacked victim of federal shooting — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good as resulting from a "larger, sinister left-wing movement" and described federal law enforcement as "under organized attack." The statement blamed the victim and a political movement rather than addressing the circumstances of the shooting.
• Vice President Vance repeats false claims about shooting victim at press conference — Vice President JD Vance held a press conference where he repeated the administration's false narrative that Renee Good used her car as a weapon against ICE officers. He reduced her to "that woman," insisted she tried to run down an officer, and made unsubstantiated claims that she was part of "left-wing networks" targeting officers. He also attacked the press for reporting facts about the incident, accusing media of "putting law enforcement at risk."
• Vice President Vance repeats false claims about Renee Good shooting — On January 8, Vice President J.D. Vance repeated Trump's false claims about the shooting, stating "Ramming an ICE officer with your car, that's what justifies being shot." Vance later amplified a 47-second video of the incident that was selectively leaked to Alpha News, a right-wing outlet, before being released by DHS. Vance also claimed Good was "brainwashed" and a "victim of left-wing ideology," and told reporters that Ross has "absolute immunity" for Good's killing.
• White House Press Secretary falsely labels Renee Good an "insurrectionist" — On January 8, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed Renee Good was part of "a large, sinister left-wing movement" and described her as "a leftist insurrectionist who was purposefully and illegally obstructing law enforcement operations." Vice President Vance amplified these claims. Good was affiliated with ICE Watch, a loose coalition of citizens that alerts neighbors to ICE activity using whistles and messaging apps—activity that is legal and constitutionally protected. Good had no association with any violent or extremist group.
• Homeland Security Secretary and Vice President defend ICE shooting and attack victim's character — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance publicly defended ICE agent Jonathan E Ross's shooting of Renee Nicole Good, contradicting video evidence of the incident. Noem characterized Ross as "an experienced officer" following his training and noted he had been hospitalized. Vance claimed without evidence that Good was part of a "leftwing network" attempting to incite violence against law enforcement, calling her "a victim of leftwing ideology" who had been "brainwashed." Both officials asserted the agent acted in self-defense, contradicting widely circulated video footage showing Good reversing her car to allow ICE vehicles to pass before being shot multiple times.
• Trump administration justifies Minneapolis shooting as self-defense and labels victim as domestic terrorist — The Trump administration publicly justified the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent as "self-defense" and accused Good of engaging in "an act of domestic terrorism." This narrative contradicts witness video evidence widely shared online, which shows Good had turned her vehicle wheels away from the agent before he shot her three times as she attempted to drive away.
• Trump administration officials accuse shooting victim of domestic terrorism without evidence — President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly accused Renee Nicole Good of "domestic terrorism" in connection with her fatal shooting by ICE, without providing evidence and before the official investigation was complete. Vance further asserted the agent enjoyed "absolute immunity" from prosecution, a claim contradicted by legal experts and state officials.
• Vice President Vance and DHS repost video of ICE shooting of Renee Good — Vice President J.D. Vance and the Department of Homeland Security reposted a cell phone video of the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. The video, which Vance claimed exonerated Ross, actually shows Good smiling and telling Ross "I'm not mad at you" before he shot her, then calling her a slur afterward. Vance captioned his repost: "What the press has done in lying about this innocent law enforcement officer is disgusting." The administration's framing contradicted the video's actual content.
• Noem falsely claims ICE agent received hospital treatment — Secretary Noem stated that the ICE agent involved in the shooting "went to the hospital. He was hit by the vehicle. He received treatment, was released, and is spending time with his family now." The bulletin reports this claim was false; the agent had no injuries and received no treatment.
• Trump discusses taking Machado's Nobel Peace Prize — Trump told Sean Hannity he understood Machado was coming to meet with him in the next week and that accepting a Nobel Peace Prize from her "would be a great honor." When asked if receiving her prize would change his view of her running the country, Trump said he would have to speak with her and that "I can't think of anybody in history that should get the Nobel prize more than me."
• Trump endorses Vance's characterization of Renee Good as agitator — When asked about Vance's suggestion that Renee Good was part of a broad left-wing network, Trump stated he had not seen the VP's statement but called him "generally very accurate" and characterized Good as "an agitator. Probably a paid agitator. She was not normal."

Supporting reports

• HSI deploys 2,000 agents to Minneapolis–St Paul for door-to-door immigration enforcement operations — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) surged approximately 2,000 federal agents into the Minneapolis–St Paul area in early January 2026 to conduct door-to-door investigations at workplaces and residences suspected of employing undocumented immigrants or involvement in human smuggling and document forgery. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons confirmed agents are "going door to door." Local residents and reporters documented officers in tactical gear, armed with long guns, demanding identification, detaining people for hours, and ransacking homes and offices. Community members characterized the operation as mass intimidation rather than targeted law enforcement.
• Trump administration deploys 2,000 ICE and DHS agents to Minnesota for immigration enforcement surge — The Trump administration deployed approximately 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Department of Homeland Security agents to Minnesota as part of "Operation Metro Surge," described by ICE as the agency's "largest operation to date." The surge targets immigrant populations, with agents conducting door-to-door operations at companies suspected of hiring undocumented workers and investigating fraud cases. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was present in Minneapolis. The operation has prompted community resistance, with immigrants avoiding public spaces and some residents impeding deportations.
• Trump administration surged 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis for largest immigration enforcement operation — On January 6, 2026, after the Supreme Court had cut off the administration's ability to federalize National Guard soldiers and deploy them to Democratic-led cities, the Trump administration surged 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis in what was described as the largest federal immigration enforcement operation ever launched.
• Trump administration deploys 2,000 additional ICE agents to Minneapolis targeting Somali residents — The Trump administration deployed 2,000 additional federal immigration agents to Minneapolis in response to social services fraud cases involving some Somali residents. The surge followed Trump's derogatory comments calling Somali residents "garbage" and rightwing media focus on fraud cases. The deployment represents an escalation of ICE presence that began in early December with hundreds of additional officers. Agents are conducting door-to-door operations at businesses, stopping vehicles in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods, and expanding into suburbs and smaller towns. ICE stated the surge is expected to last 30 days.

Supporting reports

• ICE detains 10-year-old Minnesota girl and mother for one month in Texas facility — Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano, a fourth-grader from Columbia Heights, Minnesota, and her mother were arrested by federal agents on January 6, 2026, and detained at the Dilley family detention center in Texas for approximately one month. The family, originally from Ecuador with an active asylum case, was released on February 4 after a federal judge issued an order blocking their removal. The detention occurred amid the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement in the region, which has resulted in the detention of hundreds of children at the facility, including a measles outbreak.
• ICE detains 10-year-old student and mother in school-related arrest — On January 6, ICE agents detained a 10-year-old fourth-grade student and her mother. The child was taken while traveling to elementary school with her mother. The child called her father during the arrest, and by the end of that school day, both mother and daughter were in a detention center in Texas.
• ICE detention of 10-year-old girl in Minneapolis — ICE agents detained a 10-year-old girl and her mother on January 6, 2026, as the child was being taken to elementary school in the Minneapolis area. This was one of four child detentions reported by Columbia Heights Public Schools superintendent Zena Stenvik within a three-week period, indicating a pattern of ICE enforcement actions targeting minors and families in the region.

Supporting reports

• ICE deports Gabar Choli to Canada after eight months of force-feeding — On 6 January 2026, ICE deported Gabar Choli to Canada after nearly eight months of involuntary force-feeding and detention. Choli was deported despite having been granted protection from deportation to Iran by a federal judge in 2024. Upon arrival in Canada, he reunited with his siblings. He continues to suffer physical and psychological injuries from the force-feeding ordeal, including damaged organs and chronic pain.

Supporting reports

• Death of Geraldo Lunas Campos at Camp East Montana ICE detention facility — Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, a Cuban immigrant, died at Camp East Montana on 3 January during what ICE described as a medical emergency while he was "disruptive while in line for medication." A medical examiner determined preliminary cause of death was asphyxia from neck and chest compression. A detained witness reported seeing five guards choking Campos and hearing him repeatedly say he could not breathe. DHS later claimed Campos attempted suicide and "violently resisted" officers, an allegation not in ICE's initial statement.
• Medical examiner finds asphyxia in ICE detainee death; homicide investigation possible — Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban migrant held at Camp East Montana (Fort Bliss, Texas) under ICE custody since July 2025, died on January 3, 2026. The El Paso county medical examiner reportedly determined the preliminary cause of death was "asphyxia due to neck and chest compression" and indicated the death would be classified as a homicide pending toxicology results. ICE initially claimed he died from "medical distress"; DHS later claimed he attempted suicide and "violently resisted" officers. Witness accounts describe guards choking Lunas Campos as he stated he could not breathe.
• Texas ICE detainee dies in custody ruled likely homicide — On January 3, 2026, a Texas detainee died in ICE custody in what a medical examiner is likely to rule a homicide, according to The Washington Post. The death occurred during ongoing ICE enforcement operations across American cities.
• Geraldo Lunas Campos died in ICE custody following restraint — On January 3, 2026, Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban national legally admitted to the U.S. in 1996, died at Camp East Montana detention facility in El Paso, Texas. ICE initially attributed his death to "medical distress," but the Washington Post reported that El Paso County's Medical Examiner indicated the death would likely be classified as homicide, with preliminary cause listed as asphyxia due to neck and chest compression. An eyewitness detainee reported observing at least five guards restraining Lunas Campos and heard him repeatedly state "No puedo respirar" (I can't breathe). DHS subsequently claimed Lunas Campos attempted self-harm and violently resisted staff.

Supporting reports

• DHS terminates Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan immigrants — The Department of Homeland Security, under Secretary Kristi Noem, terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 500,000 Venezuelan immigrants, effective October 2, 2026. The action followed the January 3 capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro by US forces. DHS stated that Venezuelans can now "go home to a country they love," effectively placing the status of over 1.2 million Venezuelan immigrants in the US at risk of deportation, with particular impact on midwest communities where Venezuelans have established businesses and contributed significantly to local economies and tax bases.

Supporting reports

• Wisconsin judge resigns following impeachment threats — Wisconsin circuit judge Hannah Dugan resigned from her post on January 3 following threats from state Republicans to impeach her after she was found guilty last month of obstruction after being accused of misdirecting federal agents to help an immigrant evade arrest in her courthouse. In her resignation letter to Governor Tony Evers, Dugan warned that the "unprecedented federal legal proceedings" against her "threaten the independence of our judiciary."
• Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan resigns after federal obstruction conviction — Judge Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee county circuit court judge, resigned on January 4, 2026, following her conviction on December 19, 2026, for obstruction of justice. She was convicted for directing ICE and FBI agents away from her courtroom while an undocumented immigrant defendant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, escaped via a private jury door. State Republicans had threatened impeachment if she did not resign. Dugan cited the need to remove the judiciary from partisan political conflict and allow Milwaukee County Branch 31 to have a permanent judge.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration falsely claims job creation benefits for American-born workers — Trump and White House leaders claimed that American workers are winning because of immigration crackdowns, stating that 100% of net job creation since Trump took office went to American-born citizens and that 2.5 million U.S.-born workers gained jobs in 2025 while 1 million immigrants left the workforce. However, economists across the political spectrum found no evidence supporting these claims. Data shows U.S.-born workers are doing moderately worse under Trump than under Biden because the labor market has weakened, with unemployment rising for both native-born and foreign-born adults.

Supporting reports

• Noem attempts to end temporary protected status for Venezuelans — In early 2025, DHS Secretary Noem moved to rescind temporary protected status (TPS) for approximately 600,000 Venezuelan migrants. The action was later blocked by federal courts, preventing the immediate termination of protections for this vulnerable population.

Supporting reports

• Noem revokes legal protections for 500,000 migrants — In early 2025, DHS Secretary Noem revoked legal protections for more than 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who had entered the United States under humanitarian programs. This action followed her earlier attempt to end temporary protected status for approximately 600,000 Venezuelans, which was blocked by courts.

Supporting reports

• HSI deploys 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis–St. Paul area for enforcement surge — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) deployed approximately 2,000 federal agents to the Minneapolis–St. Paul area in early January 2026. The stated focus includes investigations into fraud, human smuggling and trafficking networks, and unlawful employment, including door-to-door visits to companies. Local reporting and community accounts describe enforcement activity that extends beyond the official scope, including residential door knocks, intimidation, and widespread fear in immigrant communities.

Supporting reports

• Border Patrol agents shoot two people outside Portland medical facility; ICE arrests seven-year-old and parents seeking emergency care — In January 2026, border patrol agents shot two people outside a medical facility in Portland, Oregon. Subsequently, ICE agents arrested a seven-year-old child and her parents as they sought emergency medical care at the facility. Federal agents also deployed tear gas against thousands of people at a daytime march, including many children.

Supporting reports

• Coalition sues State Department and Marco Rubio over visa suspension to 75 countries — A coalition of immigration groups, lawyers, and US citizens filed suit in US District Court (New York) challenging a State Department order suspending immigrant visa approvals to nationals of 75 countries, including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, Eritrea, and Cuba. The department justified the suspension on claims that migrants from these countries seek welfare at "unacceptable rates." The lawsuit alleges the ban violates the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Constitution, and decades of settled policy by denying visas based solely on nationality without individualized assessment, and characterizes the justification as "demonstrably false" and discriminatory.

Supporting reports

• Federal immigration agents fatally shoot US citizens in Minneapolis — Federal immigration agents fatally shot two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti (both 37), in separate incidents on the streets of Minneapolis in January. These shootings prompted Senate Democrats to refuse DHS funding without immigration enforcement reforms, triggering the current budget standoff and shutdown.
• ICE agents kill Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good during enforcement operations in Minneapolis — Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents killed two people—Alex Pretti, 37, and Renee Nicole Good—while conducting deportation operations in Minneapolis in January 2026. Pretti was fatally shot while filming ICE agents. The killings sparked widespread outrage, prompted the removal of border patrol agent Gregory Bovino from his post, and triggered a Department of Justice civil rights investigation into Pretti's death. Despite these developments, deportations and detentions have continued in suburbs and rural areas.
• Immigration officers kill two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis ICE raids — In January 2026, during intensified immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, federal immigration officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens: 37-year-old Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good. Both victims had been protesting ICE raids. DHS Secretary Noem defended the officers and accused the two killed Americans of "domestic terrorism," remarks that drew immediate bipartisan backlash. Independent analyses and state officials stated the footage did not support Noem's characterization.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention and forced deportation of asylum seeker after months of abusive conditions — Ana María, a 23-year-old asylum seeker from South America with an open case, was arrested by ICE in January 2026 after attempting to cross into Canada. Over three months, she was transferred to at least six detention facilities across multiple states, subjected to painful shackling during transfers, denied adequate food and sleep, mocked by guards, and held in isolation from her family. Facing a deportation order to a third country and unable to endure further abuse, she agreed to voluntary removal and was deported back to her native country, abandoning her asylum claim and the life she had built in the US.

Supporting reports

• Kilmar Ábrego García mistakenly deported to El Salvador mega-prison — In April 2025, the Trump administration deported Kilmar Ábrego García to an El Salvador mega-prison in error. When confronted with the mistake, DHS Secretary Noem stated that if García were returned to the United States, the administration would "immediately deport him again." García subsequently cycled in and out of ICE custody as the administration repeatedly attempted to deport him despite court rulings, demonstrating a pattern of disregard for judicial oversight.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration deploys federal immigration enforcement surge to Democratic-led cities — Since January 2026, the Trump administration has deployed unprecedented numbers of federal immigration enforcement personnel to major Democratic-led US cities including Minneapolis, New Orleans, Charlotte, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The Department of Homeland Security declared this the largest operation in its history. ICE's budget nearly tripled to $28.7 billion, and officer numbers more than doubled from roughly 10,000 to 22,000. Federal agents have conducted raids on homes, businesses, parking lots, schools, hospitals, and courthouses, resulting in mass arrests and deportations from the US interior, family separations, and deaths.

Supporting reports

• ICE launches $100 million "wartime recruitment" media campaign targeting ideological applicants for deportation enforcement — Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a $100 million, one-year media blitz to recruit new agents for mass deportation operations. The campaign uses geofencing to target conservative radio listeners, gun enthusiasts, military followers, and men's interest audiences near military bases, NASCAR races, and gun shows. ICE offers up to $50,000 signing bonuses and $60,000 in student loan forgiveness. The agency has already received over 220,000 applications and made 18,000 tentative offers. Officials plan to spend $8 million on influencer partnerships to promote the immigration agenda to younger audiences.

Supporting reports

• Oklahoma City mayor blocks DHS warehouse purchase — Residents of Oklahoma City packed a city council meeting in January 2026 to oppose a Department of Homeland Security plan to purchase a local warehouse for conversion into a detention center. Republican Mayor David Holt subsequently met with the facility owners and announced they had decided not to sell to the DHS, blocking the acquisition.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration froze $10 billion in federal childcare and family assistance funds — In January 2026, the Trump administration froze over $10 billion in federal funds for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York, affecting three programs: the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Social Service Block Grant (SSBG). The freeze was justified by unsubstantiated fraud allegations against Somali childcare providers, based on a December 2025 viral social media video that local reporters and state investigators subsequently debunked. The states sued to block the freeze, and a federal judge granted a court order stopping it on January 9, 2026. The administration later withdrew the freeze after being ordered to produce unredacted emails.

Supporting reports

• Leavitt attacked reporter questioning ICE conduct after fatal shooting — When reporter Renee Good was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during a crackdown in Minneapolis in January 2026, Leavitt attacked a reporter who questioned her about ICE conduct during a briefing. When the reporter explained that an ICE agent had acted recklessly and killed Good unjustifiably, Leavitt responded by calling the reporter a "biased," "leftwing hack" and "fake journalist" unfit to sit in the briefing room, rather than addressing the substance of the question about the fatal shooting.

Supporting reports

• ICE and Border Patrol arrest foreign students and undocumented immigrants during deportation raids — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted sweeping deportation raids that contradicted Trump's stated goal of deporting only "the worst of the worst" criminal undocumented immigrants. Masked agents arrested foreign students who had spoken out against U.S. policy on Israel/Palestine and all undocumented immigrants they could find, including people well integrated into communities. Few of those arrested had been charged or convicted of crimes.

Supporting reports

• 32 people die in ICE custody in 2025, deadliest year in two decades — A total of 32 people died in immigration custody in 2025, marking ICE's deadliest year in more than two decades. This occurred during the same period when the DHS watchdog offices were dismantled (March 2025) and understaffed (March–August 2025), leaving minimal independent oversight of detention conditions. The CRCL reviewed approximately 10 death reports but investigated only one, according to court filings.
• September 2025 ICE detention conditions deteriorate — Between September 2025 and early 2026, multiple reports documented inhumane conditions in ICE detention facilities. A Guardian investigation revealed that U.S. immigration officials had been detaining people in small, secretive holding facilities for days or weeks in violation of federal policy. By the end of 2025, 32 people had died in ICE custody. The reports triggered widespread outrage over the treatment of immigrants.

Supporting reports

• ICE launches $100 million "wartime recruitment" targeting specific demographics — ICE announced a $100 million "wartime recruitment" strategy to hire thousands of new officers, targeting gun rights supporters, military enthusiasts, and listeners of right-wing radio shows. The agency directed ads to people near military bases, NASCAR races, gun shows, trade shows, and college campuses, and to those who have attended UFC fights or shopped for guns and tactical gear.
• ICE launches $100 million "wartime recruitment" media campaign targeting ideological applicants for deportation enforcement — Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a $100 million, one-year media blitz to recruit new agents for mass deportation operations. The campaign uses geofencing to target conservative radio listeners, gun enthusiasts, military followers, and men's interest audiences near military bases, NASCAR races, and gun shows. ICE offers up to $50,000 signing bonuses and $60,000 in student loan forgiveness. The agency has already received over 220,000 applications and made 18,000 tentative offers. Officials plan to spend $8 million on influencer partnerships to promote the immigration agenda to younger audiences.
• ICE recruitment campaign with $50,000 signing bonuses — In July 2025, ICE expanded its workforce by offering new recruits $50,000 signing bonuses and pledges of patriotism. The recruitment drive reflected the Trump administration's commitment to expanding immigration enforcement capacity and making ICE a central component of its policing strategy.
• US House Representative Jamie Raskin expresses concern about ICE recruitment targeting extremist groups — In early 2026, US House Representative Jamie Raskin publicly expressed concern that ICE was using "white nationalist 'dog whistles'" in its recruitment campaign, seemingly targeting members of extremist militias including the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, Three Percenters, and other far-right groups involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection. Raskin noted that many of these individuals had subsequently received blanket clemency from Donald Trump, raising concerns about the ideological composition and extremist infiltration of ICE.