Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump issues executive order to end birthright citizenship — On his first day in office, President Trump issued an executive order seeking to overturn birthright citizenship by reinterpreting the 14th Amendment. The order declares that children born in the US to parents who are not US citizens or lawful permanent residents, or who have only temporary legal status, are not automatically US citizens. The order applies to births after February 19, 2025. The Migration Policy Institute estimated approximately 255,000 children annually would be affected, potentially adding 2.7 million unauthorized immigrants by 2045.

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• Trump issues executive order to end birthright citizenship — On his first day in office, President Trump issued an executive order seeking to overturn birthright citizenship by reinterpreting the 14th Amendment. The order declares that children born in the US to parents who are not US citizens or lawful permanent residents, or who have only temporary legal status, are not automatically US citizens. The order applies to births after February 19, 2025. The Migration Policy Institute estimated approximately 255,000 children annually would be affected, potentially adding 2.7 million unauthorized immigrants by 2045.
• Appeals court denies Trump's plea to reinstate birthright citizenship ban — A federal appeals court in San Francisco denied the Trump administration's request to reinstate a ban on birthright citizenship. This decision leaves in place an injunction issued by a federal court in Washington state. The case, brought by Democratic attorneys general from Arizona, Oregon, and Illinois, challenges an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office, which aimed to end birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens or non-legal permanent residents. The appeals court's decision sets up a potential battle at the US Supreme Court.
• US court denies reinstatement of birthright citizenship ban — A US appeals court denied the Justice Department's emergency application to reinstate a ban on birthright citizenship. The ban, initially ordered by Donald Trump, was blocked by a court, and the appeals court ruled that the DOJ did not demonstrate an emergency need to overturn the decision. This ruling maintains the status quo regarding birthright citizenship in the US.

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• Executive Order to Reduce Federal Bureaucracy — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14217 to reduce the federal bureaucracy by eliminating non-statutory components of certain governmental entities and terminating specific Federal Advisory Committees. The order aims to minimize government waste and promote efficiency. Affected entities include the Presidio Trust, Inter-American Foundation, and others. The order also revokes previous executive orders and mandates reports on compliance within 14 days.
• Trump issues executive order to end taxpayer subsidization of open borders — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February 19, 2025, aimed at ending taxpayer subsidization of open borders. The order directs federal agencies to identify and align federally funded programs to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining taxpayer-funded benefits, consistent with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. It mandates enhanced eligibility verification systems and requires agencies to refer improper receipt of benefits to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security for action.
• White House issued fact sheet on federal bureaucracy reduction executive order — The White House published a fact sheet on February 19, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that day. The order directs elimination or reduction of unnecessary federal entities and advisory committees. The fact sheet states the order requires submission of a list of additional entities for termination within 30 days, claims the Department of Government Efficiency has identified billions in waste, and references prior actions including elimination of the Federal Executive Institute and a temporary pause on foreign aid.
• White House signed executive order directing elimination of four federal entities and termination of federal advisory committees — The White House issued an executive order on February 19, 2025, directing the elimination of non-statutory components of the Presidio Trust, Inter-American Foundation, United States African Development Foundation, and United States Institute of Peace, and requiring reduction of statutory functions to minimum levels required by law. The order also directs termination of five federal advisory committees and revocation of the Presidential Management Fellows Program. Agency heads must submit compliance reports within 14 days and identify additional entities for termination within 30 days.

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• Executive Order to End Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14218, directing federal agencies to prevent taxpayer-funded benefits from being accessed by illegal aliens. The order mandates agencies to identify and align programs with federal law, enhance eligibility verification systems, and refer improper benefit use to the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. The order aims to uphold the rule of law and protect taxpayer resources.
• Trump issues executive order to end taxpayer subsidization of open borders — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February 19, 2025, aimed at ending taxpayer subsidization of open borders. The order directs federal agencies to identify and align federally funded programs to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining taxpayer-funded benefits, consistent with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. It mandates enhanced eligibility verification systems and requires agencies to refer improper receipt of benefits to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security for action.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting executive order on federal benefits eligibility for immigrants — The White House published a fact sheet on February 19, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing federal departments and agencies to identify federally funded programs providing financial benefits to undocumented immigrants and take corrective action. The order states it will prevent federal funds to states and localities from supporting sanctuary policies, mandate eligibility verification improvements, and ensure benefits prioritize American citizens. The fact sheet cites cost estimates from various sources claiming undocumented immigrants cost taxpayers billions annually.
• White House signed executive order directing agencies to prevent federal benefits from reaching undocumented immigrants — The White House issued an executive order titled "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders" on February 19, 2025. The order directs all executive departments and agencies to identify federally funded programs that permit undocumented immigrants to obtain cash or non-cash benefits, and to take actions to align such programs with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. It requires agencies to enhance eligibility verification systems and ensure federal payments to states do not facilitate or promote undocumented immigration or "sanctuary" policies. The order mandates the Office of Management and Budget and the DOGE Service to identify additional federal funding sources for undocumented immigrants within 30 days and recommend further agency actions.
• Trump signed executive order ending federal benefits for undocumented immigrants — On February 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending federal benefits for people in the country illegally. The order stated it would eliminate "all taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens" but did not specify which benefits would be targeted. The action is part of broader immigration efforts to fulfill Trump's promise to remove millions of people from the country.

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• ICE detains immigrants at check-ins and court hearings — The Trump administration has authorized US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct civil enforcement operations at courthouses, including immigration courts. This has led to the detention of immigrants attending mandatory check-ins or court appearances. Reports indicate that ICE has set daily arrest quotas and is targeting immigrants who comply with legal requirements, such as attending scheduled appointments. This approach has resulted in the detention and deportation of individuals, including those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections and minimal criminal records.

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• White House issues fact sheet claiming border apprehensions declined 36% in January — The White House published a fact sheet stating that Customs and Border Protection apprehended 61,465 people at the southern border in January 2025, representing a 36% decline from December 2024. The document claims apprehensions along the border itself reached their lowest level since May 2020, and cites data showing an 85% drop in Border Patrol apprehensions in the 11 days after January 20 compared to the same period in 2024. The fact sheet attributes these figures to President Trump's "immediate crackdown" on immigration.

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• Russian scientist detained by ICE at Boston airport after customs paperwork error — Kseniia Petrova, a Russian researcher at Harvard Medical School, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement on 16 February after arriving at Boston Logan airport from France. She made a paperwork error on a customs declaration form while importing frog embryo samples for her lab. Although the legal penalty was a $500 fine, immigration officers revoked her visa and denied re-entry. Petrova informed authorities she feared political persecution in Russia due to her public protests against Putin's invasion of Ukraine. She was transferred to ICE detention and moved between facilities in Vermont and Louisiana, where she remains held with over 80 other female detainees, awaiting an asylum hearing.

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• ICE detention and release of Rodney Taylor, double amputee with prior conviction — Rodney Taylor, a 47-year-old Liberian-born green-card applicant and double amputee, was detained by ICE on February 15, 2025, after agents dragged him from his car in front of his children. He was held at Georgia's Stewart Detention Center for over 14 months due to a burglary conviction from his teenage years that Georgia pardoned in 2010. Despite a habeas corpus petition, multiple protests, letters from state officials, and a March 4 Capitol Hill hearing by Representative Lucy McBath citing dangerous detention conditions, ICE maintained his detention until his release on May 1, 2026. His health deteriorated significantly during detention, including development of bone spurs.

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• DOJ fires immigration judges — The Department of Justice fired over two dozen immigration judges, managers, and new hires, including five midlevel assistant chief immigration judges and 13 candidates for new judge positions. This action comes amid a backlog of approximately 3.5 million pending immigration cases. The firings have raised concerns about the administration's commitment to handling immigration cases effectively.
• — The Department of Justice, under President Trump, has fired multiple immigration judges amid a significant backlog of immigration cases. This action is part of a broader effort to reshape the judiciary and influence immigration policy, potentially impacting the fair adjudication of immigration cases.

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• Denver public school system sues Trump administration over ICE access — The Denver public school system has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its policy that allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents access to schools. The lawsuit argues that this policy forces schools to divert educational resources and has led to decreased attendance due to fear of immigration enforcement on school grounds. The lawsuit seeks to block ICE from conducting raids in schools and demands that the Department of Homeland Security publish the directive to allow better preparation by the district.

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• Trump administration sues New York over immigration policies — On Thursday, the Trump administration, through newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi, announced a lawsuit against New York. The federal government accuses state officials of prioritizing illegal aliens over American citizens. This legal action is part of a broader crackdown on immigration policies by the Trump administration, which has been met with protests and resistance in New York City. The lawsuit challenges New York's sanctuary laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
• US Justice Department sues New York over immigration rules — The US Justice Department, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has filed a lawsuit against New York State over its "green light" law, which allows individuals to obtain driver's licenses without legal residency. The lawsuit claims the law undermines federal immigration laws and seeks to have it struck down. Bondi criticized the law as prioritizing illegal aliens over American citizens and emphasized the Justice Department's commitment to enforcing federal immigration efforts. New York Attorney General James has vowed to defend the state's laws, asserting they protect the rights and safety of New Yorkers.

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• Eric Adams plans to reestablish ICE office at Rikers Island — New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to implement an executive order to reestablish an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office at Rikers Island jail. This move would allow ICE agents to operate on the premises, assisting in criminal investigations, despite existing city laws prohibiting ICE operations on city department of corrections property. The plan has sparked controversy, with critics arguing it undermines New York's sanctuary laws and could lead to increased deportations of immigrants held at the jail.

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• ICE officials reassigned over deportation targets — Two senior officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Russell Hott and Peter Berg, have been reassigned due to dissatisfaction with the pace of deportations and arrests, which were not meeting the targets set by the Trump administration. Hott was moved to ICE's Washington DC office, while Berg was reassigned to St Paul, Minnesota. This move comes amid pressure from President Trump and his administration to increase deportation numbers, with new arrest quotas being issued to ICE to boost figures.

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• Oklahoma board of education votes to require citizenship information — In January 2025, Oklahoma's board of education voted to require parents to provide citizenship information when enrolling their children in public schools. This decision challenges the constitutional right to public education for all children, regardless of immigration status, as established by the 1982 US Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe. The rule is expected to face legal challenges and may be struck down as unconstitutional. However, the policy has already created fear among immigrant families, potentially leading them to keep their children out of school.

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• ICE arrests asylum seeker despite regular check-ins and work authorization — Alberto Lovo Rojas, a Nicaraguan asylum seeker with legal work authorization, was arrested by ICE on February 8, 2025, while waiting for a haircut in Spokane, Washington, despite having checked in with the agency as required just three days earlier. Rojas had fled Nicaragua in 2018 after participating in anti-government protests and had been living in the US with his wife and children, working as a mechanic. His arrest occurred after the Trump administration rolled back Biden-era enforcement priorities, making all undocumented immigrants subject to arrest regardless of criminal history or compliance with reporting requirements. He now faces deportation to Nicaragua, where he fears persecution.

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• ACLU sues over asylum order — The ACLU filed a lawsuit against a Trump executive order that effectively suspended US asylum law. This legal challenge seeks to protect the rights of asylum seekers and uphold international obligations.

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• DOJ sues Chicago and Illinois — The DOJ filed a lawsuit against Chicago and Illinois, arguing that the city and state are interfering with Trump's immigration crackdown and seeking to block sanctuary laws. This legal action challenges local efforts to protect undocumented immigrants.

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• Trump threatens Gaza takeover — In a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump stated that the US would "take over" Gaza and suggested relocating Palestinians, a move that would constitute "ethnic cleansing" and violate international law.
• Trump changes stance on Gaza acquisition — President Trump announced a shift in U.S. policy regarding Gaza, stating that the U.S. would "take" and "hold" Gaza rather than purchase it. This statement contradicts previous administration positions and raises significant international and humanitarian concerns.
• Trump proposed plan for Gaza takeover — Former President Donald Trump proposed a plan to "take over Gaza," suggesting the removal of all Palestinians from the region. This proposal has been widely criticized as an ethnic-cleansing plan, with Trump calling on Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab countries to take in Palestinians. The plan has evoked strong reactions, including a New York Times ad signed by over 350 rabbis and Jewish activists condemning the proposal. The ad emphasizes the moral abhorrence of the plan and calls for a permanent ceasefire and efforts to rebuild Gaza with its residents.

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• Trump issues executive order prioritizing Afrikaner refugees — Trump issued an executive order to prioritize the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees from South Africa, citing government-sponsored race-based discrimination. The order directs the Secretary of State to prioritize these admissions through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The move has been criticized by South African officials and others as discriminatory and ironic, given the economic privilege of the Afrikaner group.
• Plan to end legal status for immigrants — The Trump administration is planning to end a Biden-era program that grants legal status to over 530,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This move would significantly impact these communities and reflects the administration's restrictive immigration policies.

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• DoJ sues Chicago and Illinois over sanctuary laws — The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, accusing them of obstructing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. The lawsuit seeks a court order to nullify sanctuary laws that the federal government claims interfere with federal immigration law enforcement. The complaint was filed in a federal court in Chicago, following a national emergency declaration by Donald Trump on his inauguration day. The DoJ aims to prevent these jurisdictions from receiving federal grants if they continue to impede immigration enforcement.

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• ICE updated timestamps on old press releases — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has updated timestamps on old press releases, making them appear more recent in Google searches. This action has caused outdated enforcement actions to surface as current events, creating a misleading impression of ongoing mass deportations. The press releases, some dating back over a decade, were marked with a new timestamp of January 24, 2025. This manipulation of search results has led to confusion and fear among immigrant communities, as well as misinformation about ICE's current activities.

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• ICE raids in Denver under Operation Aurora — The Trump administration conducted a series of raids in Denver, Colorado, under the operation named Aurora, targeting alleged gang members. These raids were carried out by heavily armed SWAT teams, sometimes accompanied by Fox News crews. Despite the operation's focus, only one gang member was confirmed to be in custody out of 30 arrests. The raids have sparked protests and increased fear among the approximately 155,000 undocumented immigrants in Colorado.

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• Federal judge halts Trump's birthright citizenship order — A federal judge, Deborah Boardman, issued a temporary injunction against Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants. This decision follows a similar ruling by another judge in Washington state. The order, which interprets the 14th Amendment in a way that no court has previously endorsed, has faced lawsuits from 22 states and various advocacy groups. The injunction prevents the order from taking effect while legal challenges proceed.
• Case update — Casa v. Donald Trump (D. Md.) 8:25-cv-00201 — Judge Deborah Boardman issued an opinion granting Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary nationwide injunction blocking implementation of the birthright citizenship Executive Order.

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• DHS sends migrants to Guantanamo Bay — The Department of Homeland Security sent its first military flight with migrants to Guantanamo Bay. This action is part of the administration's immigration enforcement strategy and raises human rights concerns.

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• Protests planned against Trump’s immigration policies — In response to Trump’s immigration policies, a massive and peaceful protest took place in Los Angeles over the weekend. The protest aimed to demonstrate collective opposition to the administration's stance on immigration. Organizers emphasized the importance of maintaining peaceful demonstrations to avoid provocation and potential legal repercussions, especially in states like North Carolina where new laws criminalize certain protest activities.