Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Judge Blocks Deportation Flights to El Salvador — Judge Boasberg issued an order temporarily blocking the Trump administration from flying more migrants to a prison in El Salvador. The order comes amid reports of harsh conditions at the facility and concerns about the treatment of detainees. Despite the ruling, Trump's Deportation Czar, Tom Homan, stated that the administration would continue to arrest and deport individuals deemed public safety or national security threats.
• Trump administration defies court order in Venezuelan deportations — The Trump administration deported 137 Venezuelan migrants on Sunday despite a federal judge's verbal order to halt deportations. Administration officials, including border czar Tom Homan and Attorney General Pam Bondi, defended the deportations under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (a wartime law), claiming the migrants were gang members committing violent crimes. Homan stated he does not care what judges think regarding the case, signaling defiance of judicial authority and court orders.
• Tom Homan refused to comply with Judge Boasberg's temporary restraining order blocking deportations to El Salvador — Trump's Deportation Czar Tom Homan publicly stated he would disregard a federal judge's temporary restraining order blocking further deportation flights to El Salvador. When asked about Judge Boasberg's order, Homan declared: "I don't care what that judge thinks as far as this case. We're gonna continue to arrest public safety threats, national security threats. We're gonna continue to deport them." The statement represents an explicit refusal to comply with judicial authority.
• Tom Homan refused to acknowledge due process rights for migrants facing deportation — When asked on ABC News whether migrants would receive any due process before deportation, Deportation Czar Tom Homan responded by invoking Laken Riley (a victim of a crime allegedly committed by an undocumented immigrant) rather than addressing the question, implying that due process protections are not applicable. The response suggests a policy of deportation without legal proceedings.

Supporting reports

• Judge Boasberg opens inquiry into whether White House violated court order on deportations — U.S. District Judge James Boasberg opened an inquiry into whether the Trump administration violated his temporary restraining order halting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The administration failed to recall two deportation flights, claiming the judge's verbal order lacked a written counterpart and therefore could be disregarded. Boasberg questioned this reasoning at a hearing, stating the administration's argument was "one heck of a stretch." The administration has insisted it did not violate the order but has adopted a combative stance toward the judge and is considering invoking the rarely used state secrets privilege to stonewall further inquiry.
• Trump administration defies court order in Venezuelan deportations — The Trump administration deported 137 Venezuelan migrants on Sunday despite a federal judge's verbal order to halt deportations. Administration officials, including border czar Tom Homan and Attorney General Pam Bondi, defended the deportations under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (a wartime law), claiming the migrants were gang members committing violent crimes. Homan stated he does not care what judges think regarding the case, signaling defiance of judicial authority and court orders.
• Trump administration ignores federal court order on deportation flights — The Trump administration defied a US district court order from Judge James Boasberg directing the administration to turn around planes carrying deportees. Thomas Homan, Trump's deportation enforcement official, stated "I don't care what the judges think" in a Fox News interview. Trump subsequently called for Boasberg's impeachment, labeling him a "radical left lunatic." The defiance prompted Chief Justice John Roberts to issue a rare public rebuke, stating that impeachment is not an appropriate response to judicial disagreement.
• Federal court blocks Trump administration's use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants without hearings — Judge James Boasberg rejected the Trump administration's attempt to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of gang ties without due process hearings. The administration had issued a proclamation on March 15 claiming Tren de Aragua gang activities constituted an "invasion" justifying wartime deportation powers. Boasberg ruled that individuals must receive hearings before removal and that plaintiffs disputing gang membership cannot be deported until courts decide the merits. The case proceeded to appeals court, where Judge Patricia Millett questioned whether Venezuelans received adequate opportunity to contest accusations before deportation.

Supporting reports

• Trump denies signing Alien Enemies Act proclamation authorizing Venezuelan migrant rendition — President Trump told reporters he did not sign the proclamation invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify rendition of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, claiming "other people handled it" and crediting Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, White House communications director Steven Cheung stated on Friday that Trump personally signed the proclamation, and Trump's signature appears on the document in the Federal Register. The contradiction raises questions about presidential authority and accountability for the deportation policy.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration revokes legal status for 530,000 immigrants — The Trump administration, through the Department of Homeland Security, announced the revocation of temporary legal status for over 530,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This decision, signed by Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem, ends a Biden-era parole program that allowed these individuals to live and work in the U.S. with two-year work permits. The revocation will take effect on April 24, 2025, potentially making these individuals vulnerable to deportation if they lack other legal protections.

Supporting reports

• ICE requests Cornell student to surrender to immigration authorities — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), requested Momodou Taal, a Cornell University PhD student and dual citizen of the UK and The Gambia, to surrender to immigration authorities. This request came days after Taal filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's executive orders aimed at deporting foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Taal's lawyers have filed a motion to prevent his detention, and the court has ordered the government to respond to this motion.

Supporting reports

• White House halts federal funding for legal representation of unaccompanied migrant children — The Trump administration cut federal funding to legal aid programs serving unaccompanied immigrant children, affecting 26,000 minors currently receiving government-funded representation. Organizations collectively receiving over $200 million in federal grants were informed of partial contract termination by the interior department on Friday. The cut eliminates funding for legal representation and attorney recruitment while maintaining "Know Your Rights" presentations. A White House memo to the justice department characterized immigration legal advocacy as "fraud" and directed the attorney general and homeland security secretary to enforce sanctions against attorneys assisting immigrants.

Supporting reports

• Judge blocks deportation of Venezuelan gang members — Chief Judge James Boasberg of the United States District Court for Washington DC issued a 14-day block on the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The Trump administration had invoked this act to justify the expulsions without final removal orders from immigration judges. Boasberg found that the act did not provide a basis for the deportations, as the presence of the gang members did not constitute an act of war. The judge is considering whether the administration violated his order by deporting individuals after the ruling.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration revokes legal status for 530,000 immigrants — The Trump administration, through the Department of Homeland Security, announced the revocation of temporary legal status for over 530,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This decision, signed by Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem, ends a Biden-era parole program that allowed these individuals to live and work in the U.S. with two-year work permits. The revocation will take effect on April 24, 2025, potentially making these individuals vulnerable to deportation if they lack other legal protections.

Supporting reports

• ICE arrests Mahmoud Khalil, Syrian-born Palestinian graduate student with green card — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian former graduate student at Columbia University who holds a green card, on March 20, 2025. Khalil had been vocal in support of Palestinians and participated in campus protests. The government is attempting to deport him under the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to order removal of individuals whose presence is deemed to have "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences." The arrest prompted legal challenges and became a focal point for concerns about targeting of pro-Palestinian speech on campuses.
• Trump administration arrests Mahmoud Khalil under obscure provision — Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and leader of pro-Palestinian protests, was arrested by the Trump administration under a provision allowing deportation of foreign nationals deemed to have adverse foreign policy consequences. This arrest is part of a broader crackdown on university protests and is seen as a move to suppress dissent and control campus activism.

Supporting reports

• SSA halts issuance of Social Security numbers to noncitizens, requiring field office appointments for 3+ million annually — On March 20, Popular Information reported that the SSA stopped issuing Social Security numbers and cards to noncitizens who receive work authorization. Instead of processing these applications remotely, all recipients of work authorization—more than 3 million people annually—must now schedule in-person appointments at SSA field offices. Combined with the ID verification policy, these two changes could send up to 160,000 additional people to field offices weekly, representing a 25% increase in appointment demand. An SSA source told Popular Information the policies are causing "havoc and confusion" and will "break the agency and hurt the public."

Supporting reports

• French scientist denied entry to US — The French government said a scientist had been denied entry to the US and was sent back to France after immigration officers found text messages critical of the Trump administration on his phone.
• French scientist denied entry to the US — A French scientist was denied entry to the United States after US immigration officers searched his phone and found messages in which he had expressed criticism of the Trump administration. This incident highlights ongoing issues at the US border where individuals are being scrutinized for their personal communications and political views, raising concerns about freedom of expression and privacy rights.

Supporting reports

• Canadian detained by ICE for two weeks — Jasmine Mooney, a Canadian citizen, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for two weeks despite having a valid work visa. She was held in harsh conditions without clear explanation or access to legal counsel. Mooney's detention highlights systemic issues within ICE facilities, where detainees often face prolonged detention without due process. Her case gained media attention, which eventually led to her release. The incident underscores the challenges faced by immigrants and the potential for abuse within the immigration detention system.

Supporting reports

• Social Security Administration freezes Enumeration Beyond Entry program for work-authorized non-citizens — On March 19, the Social Security Administration secretly implemented a freeze on the Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) program, which had automatically issued Social Security numbers and cards to work-authorized non-citizens and newly naturalized citizens since 2017. An internal SSA memo dated March 24 warned the freeze poses legal risks under the Social Security Act and Administrative Procedure Act, will increase field office traffic by 60,000–75,000 weekly visits, and raises costs from $8 to $55.80 per card. On April 15, House Oversight Committee ranking member Gerald Connolly demanded SSA reverse the policy and launched an investigation.
• Social Security Administration freezes EBE program — The Social Security Administration (SSA) has temporarily frozen the Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) program, which automatically issues Social Security numbers and cards to non-citizens granted work authorizations and newly naturalized U.S. citizens. This change, revealed in an internal SSA message, was not publicly announced. The freeze could force 60,000 to 75,000 additional people per week to visit SSA field offices, potentially overwhelming the system. The SSA has not provided a rationale for the freeze, and it remains unclear how long it will last.

Supporting reports

• Judge bars Trump administration from deporting Indian academic — A US district judge, Patricia Giles, issued an order preventing the Trump administration from deporting Badar Khan Suri, an Indian academic at Georgetown University. The Department of Homeland Security had accused Suri of having ties to Hamas and spreading propaganda, but the judge's order halts his deportation until further court decisions. Suri was detained by federal agents and held in a Louisiana staging center. His legal team argues that his detention is based on his political views, which they claim is unconstitutional.
• Federal judge blocked deportation of Georgetown researcher — A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deporting Suri "unless and until the court issues a contrary order," protecting the Georgetown researcher from removal while his case proceeds.

Supporting reports

• Judge orders Mahmoud Khalil case transferred to New Jersey — A New York federal judge, Jesse Furman, has denied the Trump administration's attempt to dismiss Mahmoud Khalil's legal challenge and has ordered the case to be transferred from Louisiana to New Jersey. Khalil, a Palestinian activist and permanent US resident, was detained by immigration authorities and is challenging his arrest and detention. The judge ruled that the New York court lacks jurisdiction over Khalil's claims since he was detained in New Jersey when his petition was filed. The order also maintains that Khalil cannot be deported while his legal challenge is ongoing.
• Motion to dismiss decided — Mahmoud Khalil v. William P. Joyce et al. (D.N.J.) 2:25-cv-01963 — Judge Furman denied the government's motion to dismiss the Petition, but granted the government's motion to transfer the case, albeit to the District of New Jersey, not to the Western District of Louisiana. The case is now before Judge Michael Farbiarz.
• Federal judge moved Khalil case to New Jersey — A federal judge in New York said Mahmoud Khalil must remain in the US for now but moved Khalil's challenge of his arrest to a court in New Jersey, continuing legal proceedings over his detention.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge declined to block IRS tax record sharing — A federal judge declined to block the IRS from sharing tax records of noncitizens with DHS, allowing the agency to share sensitive financial information with immigration enforcement.

Supporting reports

• Judge challenges Trump deportation order — Federal Judge James Boasberg challenged the Trump administration's deportation of suspected Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. Boasberg attempted to prevent the deportation flights and demanded details of the aircrafts' itineraries to ensure compliance with his order. The administration claims the flights departed before the order, while Boasberg disputes this and has threatened consequences for non-compliance. The White House labeled Boasberg a "Democrat activist," asserting he lacks authority to challenge the president's executive power.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention of Georgetown scholar Dr. Badar Khan Suri on visa revocation and social media posts — Immigration authorities detained Dr. Badar Khan Suri, a senior postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University's Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, on March 17, 2025. Officials revoked his J-1 visa, citing alleged family connections to Hamas advisers and his social media posts supporting Palestine. He is held at an immigration prison in Alvarado, Texas, with a hearing scheduled for May 6. Georgetown officials stated they received no explanation for the detention. Over 370 alumni and 65 current students signed a letter opposing the detention as a violation of academic freedom and due process.
• Immigration agents detained Georgetown researcher — Masked immigration agents detained Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University postdoctoral researcher, saying his student visa was revoked. DHS accused Suri, who has not been charged with a crime, of "spreading Hamas propaganda" and having "close connections to a known or suspected terrorist."

Supporting reports

• Brown University professor deported despite judge’s order — Rasha Alawieh, a Brown University professor, was deported to Lebanon despite a US district court judge's order blocking her removal. The deportation occurred after federal prosecutors alleged she had "sympathetic photos and videos" related to Hezbollah figures. The deportation defied Judge Leo Sorokin's order, which required 48 hours' notice before her removal. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proceeded with the deportation, leading to a legal response demand from the judge. The incident is part of a broader escalation of immigration policies under the Trump administration.

Supporting reports

• NC H171, H294, H302, and H318 bills in committee — Several controversial bills are scheduled for committee meetings at the North Carolina General Assembly. These include NC H171, which prohibits DEI in state agencies, and NC H294 and H302, which make Boards of Elections partisan in Jackson and Pitt Counties. NC H318, the "Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act," is also under consideration. These bills are part of a legislative agenda that critics argue undermines diversity, electoral fairness, and immigrant rights.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration filed to dissolve injunctions in deportation case — The Trump administration filed a late-night 35-page motion on Monday to dissolve the injunctions and dismiss the case related to the use of the Alien Enemies Act for deporting Venezuelan nationals. The administration is challenging two injunctions: one preventing the deportation of five Venezuelans and another expanding the order to cover all removals under the Act. The administration argues that the deportation flights were outside the judge's jurisdiction once they left U.S. airspace.
• Trump administration sought removal of Judge Boasberg — The Trump administration sent a letter to an appeals court calling for Judge Boasberg to be removed from hearing the deportation case associated with the Alien Enemies Act, escalating efforts to disqualify the judge.
• DOJ argued judge's order was not enforceable — In a court filing, the Department of Justice argued that Judge Boasberg's verbal order was "not enforceable as an injunction," challenging the judge's authority to issue the restraining order blocking Alien Enemies Act deportations.

Supporting reports

• El Salvador and Trump officials shared footage of shackled migrants — El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, Trump, and Secretary Rubio shared footage of migrants deported to El Salvador being pulled off planes with hands and feet shackled and heads shaved. Bukele stated the US would pay $6 million to imprison 300 men for one year.

Supporting reports

• White House issued fact sheet on deportations of gang members to El Salvador — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump Delivers Justice to Terrorists, Security for Americans" announcing that the Trump Administration deported gang members identified as members of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 to El Salvador over the weekend. The document states that 238 Tren de Aragua members and 21 MS-13 gang members were deported, with El Salvador agreeing to hold them in its prisons. The fact sheet includes statements from administration officials, members of Congress, and other figures supporting the deportations and criticizing judicial attempts to block them.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration deported alleged gang members to El Salvador — On March 15, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador without due process. Approximately 200 individuals were flown from Texas to San Salvador, despite a federal judge's order to halt the flights. The deportees were sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Reports indicate that many of those deported may not be gang members, with tattoos being used as the primary evidence of gang affiliation. The legality of the deportation under the Alien Enemies Act is disputed.
• Deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García to El Salvador without due process and defiance of Supreme Court order — Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran man with protected status against deportation to El Salvador, was removed to El Salvador by mistake without a hearing. The Trump administration admitted the error but is defying a US Supreme Court order to facilitate his return to his home and family in Maryland. He was flown to a brutal mega-prison in El Salvador, then transferred to another facility. The administration accused him of being a violent gangster and abandoned him, infuriating a federal judge and prompting warnings of a constitutional crisis. In June, the US flew him back but kept him in custody and charged him with migrant smuggling conspiracy. His lawyer stated the administration was "playing games with the court all along."
• U.S. District Judge blocks deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members — U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued an order temporarily blocking the Trump administration's deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members. The ruling was based on the lack of hearings for the individuals to present evidence against their alleged gang affiliation. The administration had invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify the deportations without due process.
• Trump administration deports Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador — The Trump administration deported over 200 Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, including individuals accused of being part of the Tren de Aragua gang. The deportees, some of whom appeared in a video by El Salvador's president, face at least a year in a Salvadorian jail. A lawyer for one deportee, an LGBTQ+ artist, claims the accusations are baseless and part of a psychological warfare campaign against asylum seekers. The deportations are seen as an effort to deter asylum claims in the U.S.

Supporting reports

• House Democrats delegation visits El Salvador to challenge Trump administration's refusal to facilitate return of deported immigrant — Four House Democrats (Ansari, Dexter, Frost, Garcia) traveled to El Salvador to advocate for the release of Kilmar Ábrego García, a man with protected legal status who was wrongly deported on March 15 following an "administrative error." The Trump administration has refused to comply with a Supreme Court order directing it to facilitate Ábrego García's return to the US, despite acknowledging the deportation was unlawful. The delegation met with US embassy officials and demanded proof of life and access to counsel.
• ICE deports Maryland man with protected legal status to El Salvador, blames administrative error — Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Kilmer Armado Ábrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national residing in Maryland with his wife and five-year-old child, to El Salvador on 15 March 2025, despite his having been granted "withholding of removal" status by an immigration judge in October 2019—a protected status preventing return to his home country. ICE acknowledged the deportation as an "administrative error" in court documents filed Monday, stating Garcia was placed on a deportation flight as an alternate when other detainees were removed. The Trump administration claimed it lacks jurisdiction to return him now that he is in Salvadoran custody. Garcia is currently detained at Cecot, El Salvador's notorious mega-prison.
• ICE detains and deports Kilmar Ábrego García without hearing despite withholding of removal order — On March 12, 2025, ICE officers detained Kilmar Ábrego García and informed him his immigration status had changed. Three days later, on March 15, 2025, he was deported to El Salvador without a hearing and sent to a maximum-security prison, despite holding a "withholding of removal" order granted by an immigration judge in 2019 that explicitly prevented deportation to El Salvador due to credible fear of persecution.
• Kilmar Ábrego García removed to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center without due process; returned and charged with human trafficking — Kilmar Ábrego García, 29, was removed from the United States on March 15, 2025, and transported to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a facility known for severe human rights abuses. He was returned to the United States on June 6, 2025, and now faces human trafficking charges. His attorneys maintain that García is innocent and characterize the charges as an "abuse of power." García's case is one of over 200 people removed to CECOT without due process.
• Trump administration admits then reverses course on unlawful deportation of Ábrego García — Shortly after deporting Kilmar Ábrego García to El Salvador in March 2025, the Trump administration admitted in a court filing that the deportation resulted from an "administrative error." Subsequently, administration officials reversed course and insisted that Ábrego García was not wrongly deported, despite a 2019 court order explicitly prohibiting his deportation to El Salvador and his prior grant of "withholding of removal" status.
• Government rendered legal U.S. resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador despite court order — On March 15, the government rendered Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal U.S. resident, to prison in El Salvador despite a court order prohibiting his deportation to that country, where his life was in danger. The government later admitted the arrest and rendition occurred because of "administrative error" but now claims without evidence that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang and that his return would threaten public safety. Abrego Garcia denies gang membership and has never been charged with a crime.
• ICE arrests and renders Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador prison — On March 12, 2025, ICE agents pulled over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's car, told his wife to retrieve their disabled son, and incarcerated him. On March 15, the government rendered Abrego Garcia to CECOT prison in El Salvador, a facility alleged to be the site of human rights abuses, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Abrego Garcia had been living lawfully in Maryland with his wife and three children, working as a sheet metal apprentice with a union, and had never been charged with any crime. He had checked in annually with ICE as directed. The U.S. government pays El Salvador $6 million annually to incarcerate individuals it sends there.
• Trump administration rendered U.S. citizen to El Salvador prison without due process — On March 15, 2025, the Trump administration rendered Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia to CECOT, a notorious terrorist prison in El Salvador, initially claiming it was an "administrative error." When Abrego Garcia's family filed a lawsuit for his return, lawyers at the Departments of State, Justice, and Homeland Security quietly worked to secure his safety and return. However, White House officials treated the case as an opportunity to challenge judicial restraint on presidential power. The administration publicly insisted, without evidence, that Abrego Garcia was a gang member, drug dealer, terrorist, and human trafficker, and despite court orders up to the Supreme Court mandating his return, White House officials have publicly stated he will never return to the United States.
• Trump administration rendition of men to CECOT prison in El Salvador without due process — Beginning March 15, 2025, the Trump administration transported more than 250 men from the United States to CECOT, a notorious terrorist prison in El Salvador, claiming they were dangerous gang members without providing names or evidence. Subsequent investigations by Bloomberg and other outlets found that approximately 90% of the men had no U.S. criminal record. The administration provided false information about the men's criminal status to justify the renditions, violating due process rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
• Trump administration deported Salvadoran national despite valid legal protection from removal — Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen with a valid 2019 immigration court order granting "withholding of removal" to El Salvador (based on credible evidence of gang persecution), was arrested by ICE on March 12, 2025, and deported to El Salvador on March 15, 2025, despite the Trump administration's own legal filing acknowledging the deportation occurred "because of an administrative error" while ICE was aware of his protection. The administration later defended the deportation and made false public claims about Garcia's criminal history.
• Deportation of Venezuelan Migrants to El Salvador Raises Concerns — Reports emerged detailing the deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, where families are concerned for their safety. Despite no criminal records, these individuals were deported under claims of gang affiliation. Family members have launched a WhatsApp helpline to seek information about their loved ones.