Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration removes Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals; ICE enforces deportations with ankle monitors in Ohio — Following a Supreme Court decision backing the Trump administration on 5 August 2026, federal judge Ana Reyes lifted her stay on the removal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals. ICE subsequently began summoning Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio to a facility in Blue Ash, where they were fitted with ankle monitors restricting travel to 75 miles from their homes. The action affects thousands of Haitians who had legally resided in the US under TPS protections and worked in local manufacturing and food-packaging jobs.
• Trump administration terminates TPS protections for Haitians; DHS begins enforcement and deportations — The Trump administration officially ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti after a June Supreme Court ruling eliminated judicial review of the program. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced "We're going after them right now," directing over 300,000 Haitians to self-deport or face arrest and deportation. A federal judge confirmed the termination on Wednesday. Removal orders for Haitians surged 96% between March and June, and immigration officials have begun fitting Haitians with ankle monitors for tracking and detention, despite Haiti being on the State Department's "do not travel" advisory list due to gang violence and political collapse.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration ends federal legal funding for unaccompanied immigrant children — The Trump administration severed ties with nearly 100 legal organizations providing immigration counsel and ended a federal contract providing legal representation to over 20,000 unaccompanied children, effective July 31, 2026. Federal officials refused to reimburse organizations for $65 million in completed work unless they violated client confidentiality by disclosing sensitive medical and immigration data. The cuts are forcing legal nonprofits into layoffs and closures, leaving children to face immigration court without attorneys. Experts warn children without counsel win relief less than 10% of the time and face expedited deportation proceedings.
• Legal representation contract for immigrant children expires; no-bid contract offered to Trump-connected firm — The Trump administration allowed a contract for legal representation of immigrant children to expire on July 31. The administration then offered a $150 million no-bid contract to a small Texas law firm with no experience in immigration law but with close ties to Trump. Following public outcry, the law firm declined the contract. The action left immigrant children without guaranteed legal representation during deportation proceedings.

Supporting reports

• Governor Abbott designates CAIR a foreign terrorist organization under Texas law — Texas Governor Greg Abbott designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a major Muslim civil rights organization, as a foreign terrorist organization under Texas state law. CAIR has challenged the designation in court. Abbott also sent letters to sheriffs and district attorneys in two north Texas counties urging them to work with Attorney General Paxton to "investigate efforts by entities purporting to illegally enforce sharia law in Texas." A gubernatorial spokesperson claimed the actions target "radical groups who support terrorism and seek to forcibly impose sharia law on Texans."

Supporting reports

• Trump administration directs DOJ to pursue mass denaturalization cases against 384 foreign-born citizens — The Trump administration is directing the Department of Justice to pursue denaturalization cases against 384 foreign-born US citizens, with civil litigators in 39 regional offices assigned to file cases in coming weeks. A DOJ official characterized this as "the first wave" of a "White House initiative" to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans. Historically rare due to cost and manpower, denaturalization has been used to target political activists and immigrants on broad grounds including alleged "nexus to terrorism" or gang affiliation, with experts warning the criteria are overly broad.
• Justice Department assigns prosecutors to file denaturalization cases against 384 naturalized citizens — The Justice Department announced it is assigning civil litigators to file denaturalization cases against 384 naturalized citizens as part of an effort to pursue "the highest volume of denaturalization referrals in history." The cases will be distributed across dozens of U.S. attorney's offices nationwide. Denaturalization requires proving material fraud in the naturalization process before a federal judge.

Supporting reports

• US authorities revoke green card status and arrest relatives of Qassem Soleimani — US federal agents arrested Hamideh Soleimani Afshar (niece of late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani) and her daughter after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their lawful permanent resident status. Officials alleged the pair celebrated Iranian military strikes against US personnel and expressed support for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Both are now in ICE custody pending removal. The action occurred amid the Trump administration's broader effort to revoke immigration statuses of individuals deemed aligned with US adversaries.
• Rubio announces arrest of alleged Soleimani relatives, revokes green cards — Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that federal agents arrested two individuals he claimed were the niece and great-niece of assassinated Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Rubio revoked their green cards, and the pair were taken into ICE custody awaiting deportation proceedings. However, Soleimani's daughter publicly stated the two "have no connection whatsoever" to her father and called the State Department's claims false. Rubio later deleted the tweet announcing the arrest.

Supporting reports

• DHS memo authorizes ICE detention of legal refugees for "rescreening" — The Department of Homeland Security issued a memo authorizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and indefinitely detain legal refugees already admitted to the US who have not yet obtained permanent residence (green cards), subjecting them to intensive interviews and background checks while in custody. The policy reverses a 2010 Obama-era guidance and directly contradicts a federal judge's recent order blocking such arrests in Minnesota. The memo claims conditional admission and mandatory one-year review compel detention authority.

Supporting reports

• DOJ intervenes in lawsuit challenging LA school district's race-conscious resource allocation — The Trump administration's Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, filed to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the conservative 1776 Project Foundation against the Los Angeles Unified School District. The suit challenges LAUSD's decades-old practice of designating schools with 70%+ non-white enrollment as PHBAO schools and providing them additional resources including smaller class sizes and enhanced parent engagement. The DOJ's civil rights division argued the policy constitutes racial discrimination against white students and violates equal protection principles.
• Justice Department intervened in lawsuit challenging LAUSD racial classification program — The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division announced it sought intervention in a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District, challenging the PHBAO (Predominately Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Other) Program. The program classifies students by race and neighborhood racial composition to determine school funding and magnet school admissions. The DOJ complaint alleges the program provides extra funding and admissions preferences to schools serving predominantly non-White populations, treating attendance at such schools as equivalent to attending an overcrowded school. The case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Supporting reports

• Arrest and detention of Patty O'Keefe by ICE agents in Minneapolis — Patty O'Keefe, a 36-year-old environmental nonprofit worker and volunteer ICE monitor, was arrested by three ICE agents while tracking an ICE convoy. One agent pepper-sprayed her vehicle and smashed the front windows; she was hauled out and arrested. O'Keefe was transported to an ICE facility near the airport, held for eight hours in a section designated for U.S. citizens, and heard detainees awaiting deportation. She was released without charge. During detention, an officer allegedly taunted her with a reference to Renee Good's death.

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

• 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 administration ends legal protections for Somalis in Minnesota and escalates rhetoric against Somali Americans and Representative Ilhan Omar — The Trump administration ended legal protections for Somalis in Minnesota and publicly characterized the state as "a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity." Trump made inflammatory statements describing Somali Americans as coming "from hell," contributing "nothing," and should "go back to where they came from." Trump also called Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar "garbage" and said "her friends are garbage." These statements occur in the context of FBI investigations and immigration enforcement actions targeting Minnesota's Somali community, including ICE agents questioning constituents and Omar's own son.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration freezes asylum decisions and pauses immigration applications for nationals of 19 countries following Afghan shooting incident — Following the shooting of two national guard soldiers in Washington DC by an Afghan man, the Trump administration froze asylum decisions at USCIS, paused visa and immigration applications filed by Afghans, halted legal immigration cases for nationals of 19 countries on its travel ban, and directed re-investigation of cases granted legal status under Biden. The administration also reduced work permit validity periods for asylum-seekers and refugees. Afghan immigrants and advocates condemned the shooting but protested the collective punishment of hundreds of thousands of people for one individual's alleged actions.

Supporting reports

• Border Patrol agents approached workers at residential property in Charlotte — Two CBP agents walked into the front yard of homeowner Rheba Hamilton on Saturday morning during Operation Charlotte's Web. One agent attempted to speak to workers in Spanish who were putting up Christmas decorations. The workers did not respond and the agents left without making arrests, but the incident made residents realize that no location was safe from enforcement activity.
• Border Patrol conducted "Operation Charlotte's Web" ICE raids in Charlotte, North Carolina, arresting 81 people in five hours. — Border Patrol launched coordinated immigration enforcement operations in Charlotte on Saturday, November 15, resulting in 81 arrests within five hours. The raids included documented cases of excessive force, such as a U.S. citizen having his car window smashed and being thrown to the ground despite presenting citizenship documents. The enforcement action prompted widespread fear in the community, with churches closing doors, dental clinics reporting cancelled appointments, and local businesses shuttering. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who previously led operations in Chicago (3,000+ arrests) and Los Angeles, directed the Charlotte operation.
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department stated it does not participate in federal immigration enforcement — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department emphasized that it is not involved in federal immigration enforcement and has no authority to enforce federal immigration laws. This statement clarified the department's non-participation in Operation Charlotte's Web.
• Operation Charlotte's Web arrested 81 people in five-hour immigration enforcement action — Federal Border Patrol agents launched "Operation Charlotte's Web" in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, November 15, arresting 81 people in approximately five hours. The operation, led by Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and announced by DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, targeted what officials claimed were "violent criminal illegal aliens" and cited 1,400 unexecuted immigration detainers. On the ground, agents conducted stops at businesses, churches, apartment complexes, and residential areas; smashed car windows; and detained U.S. citizens including naturalized citizen Willy Aceituno, who was released only after producing citizenship documents. Local law enforcement did not participate. Hundreds of residents protested Saturday afternoon in uptown Charlotte.
• Willy Aceituno detained despite presenting U.S. citizenship documents — Willy Aceituno, a 46-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, was stopped twice by Border Patrol agents on Saturday morning during Operation Charlotte's Web. During the second encounter, agents broke his car window, forced him from his vehicle, and threw him to the ground. When he stated he was an American citizen, agents detained him anyway and only released him after he produced citizenship documents. Aceituno reported agents questioned where he was born and expressed disbelief in his citizenship status.
• Federal immigration raids arrest 81 people in Charlotte, North Carolina — Federal Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted Operation Charlotte's Web over the weekend of November 15–16, 2025, arresting at least 81 people in Charlotte, North Carolina. Videos showed agents chasing and apprehending people outside businesses; a U.S. citizen was forcibly removed from his vehicle; a teenage grocery store worker was arrested. Business districts in predominantly Latino neighborhoods came to a standstill. Local officials and advocacy groups reported this was the largest single-day immigration arrest in state history and criticized the lack of communication and constitutional violations.
• Federal immigration sweep in Charlotte, North Carolina — Federal immigration officers, including Customs and Border Protection and ICE agents, conducted enforcement operations in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday. Targets included a church where an arrest was made while parishioners performed yard work, workers hanging Christmas lights, and individuals stopped while driving. Local reports indicate agents made stops without clear identification or explanation, and at least one U.S. citizen was forcibly removed from his vehicle. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated the surge was to "ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed."
• Top Border Patrol official and agents planned to leave Chicago area — CBS News reported on November 10 that top US Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino and some of his agents could soon leave the Chicago area after the Trump administration made plans for their departure.
• Federal immigration sweep in Charlotte, North Carolina detains 130+ people — The Trump administration deployed border patrol agents to Charlotte, North Carolina over the weekend in an operation titled "Charlotte's Web," resulting in the detention of at least 130 people. Federal agents conducted aggressive arrests near churches, apartment complexes, and stores, with reports of masked, heavily armed agents in unmarked vehicles. Governor Josh Stein and Mayor Vi Lyles condemned the operation, citing racial profiling, targeting of U.S. citizens, and fear-mongering despite declining crime rates in the city. The Department of Homeland Security claimed those arrested had criminal records, though it provided no conviction details.
• ICE and CBP conduct mass immigration enforcement sweep in Charlotte, North Carolina — US Customs and Border Protection agents, led by Gregory Bovino, conducted a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, resulting in 81 arrests. The operation, dubbed "Operation Charlotte's Web," targeted the Democratic-led city of 950,000 despite declining crime rates and fierce objections from local leaders. Reports indicate agents conducted sweeps near churches, apartment complexes, and other community spaces, causing widespread fear and prompting business closures and medical appointment cancellations among immigrant communities.
• Border Patrol Deployment in Charlotte — Border Patrol agents, led by Gregory Bovino, have been deployed to Charlotte, North Carolina, following their operations in Chicago. This move has raised concerns about racial profiling and the lack of due process, as reports indicate that at least one American citizen was racially profiled and forcibly removed from his vehicle. The presence of Border Patrol in Charlotte, a city with a significant immigrant population, has led to fears of increased racial profiling and deportations without due process. Protests and community actions are being organized in response to these developments.
• ICE and Border Patrol Deployment in North Carolina — The federal administration has deployed ICE and Border Patrol agents to the Raleigh/Durham area in North Carolina, causing significant disruption and fear among immigrant communities. This deployment is described as a tactic to destabilize communities and intimidate families. In response, local organizations such as SiembraNC and Southern Vision Alliance are mobilizing to provide support and protection for affected individuals. Community members are encouraged to report ICE sightings and participate in organized actions to safeguard vulnerable populations.
• CBP agents raid OurBridge after-school program in Charlotte — On Monday, November 18, 2025, Customs and Border Protection agents attempted to raid OurBridge, an after-school program serving children from multiple countries including Tanzania. The program's director stated the raid's goal was to "instill fear" and called it "unnecessary, unacceptable and another direct attack on the safety of our community." OurBridge halted services indefinitely and staff ceased media engagement.
• US Border Patrol conducts mass immigration raids in Charlotte, North Carolina — US Customs and Border Protection, led by regional chief Greg Bovino, conducted a series of immigration raids in Charlotte, North Carolina, resulting in over 100 arrests. The operation, called "Operation Charlotte's Web," involved agents conducting enforcement actions near churches, apartment complexes, and stores. Governor Josh Stein criticized the crackdown as "stoking fear." Legal experts note that while border patrol has authority to operate up to 100 miles from international boundaries (which includes Charlotte via the Atlantic coastline), operations outside that zone must comply with standard constitutional protections requiring reasonable suspicion or probable cause.
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district experiences mass absenteeism due to ICE enforcement fear — On Monday, November 18, 2025, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district (141,000+ students, ~30% Latino) recorded over 30,000 absences, compared to the normal 9,000–10,000. Teachers reported Hispanic students and families with undocumented members refusing to attend school out of fear of ICE enforcement. One teacher noted half her special-needs class was absent, with three Hispanic students citing fear. Parents kept children home, including a blind and autistic daughter, until they felt safe.
• ICE agents raid Latino church in Charlotte during weekend enforcement — During the weekend of November 19–20, 2025, immigration agents raided a Latino church in Charlotte, making an arrest in front of the congregation. The raid caused attendees to scatter into the woods. The incident led to cancellation of a scheduled entrepreneurship event at Camino church on Thursday, November 20, as organizers prioritized community safety.
• ICE and CBP surge enforcement operations in Charlotte, North Carolina, detaining citizens and noncitizens indiscriminately — Federal immigration agents from ICE and Customs and Border Protection launched "Operation Charlotte's Web" on November 19, 2025, surging enforcement across Charlotte and later Raleigh-Durham. The operation resulted in over 250 arrests statewide. Agents conducted warrantless stops, detained U.S. citizens including Puerto Rican-born Gerardo Ortiz twice, and raided an after-school program (OurBridge) serving children. The enforcement created widespread fear, causing 30,000+ school absences, business closures on immigrant-heavy Central Avenue, and community members to avoid work and public spaces.
• U.S. citizen Gerardo Ortiz detained twice by federal agents in Charlotte — Gerardo Ortiz, a Puerto Rican-born U.S. citizen, was detained twice by federal immigration agents on November 19 and 20, 2025, while protesting in Charlotte. Agents emerged from vans, restrained him with hands behind his back, and transported him 20 blocks away to a parking lot before releasing him. Ortiz reported severe emotional distress and stated he felt he had lost his liberty. He had no prior arrest history.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention of immigrants without criminal records surpasses those with records — According to government data released by ICE on September 26, 2025, 16,523 people with no criminal history are now in immigration detention, exceeding the 15,725 with criminal records and 13,767 with pending charges. This marks the first time under the second Trump administration that non-criminal immigrants constitute the largest group in ICE custody. The Trump administration has directed ICE to arrest approximately 3,000 people per day as part of its mass deportation campaign, resulting in increased "collateral arrests" of people with no criminal history.

Supporting reports

• UK tourist Karen Newton detained by ICE for six weeks despite holding valid visa — Karen Newton, a 65-year-old British retiree with a valid B2 tourist visa, was detained by ICE for 42 days after being turned back at the US-Canada border in late September 2025. She was shackled, transported to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, and held in a cell where she slept on the floor for a month. ICE claimed she was "guilty by association" with her husband, whose visa had expired. She was eventually released on 6 November 2025 after signing a self-removal agreement. Guards told her that ICE officers receive bonuses for each person detained.
• British tourist Karen Newton detained for six weeks despite valid visa — Karen Newton, a 65-year-old British citizen with a valid tourist visa, was detained by US immigration authorities for six weeks after being turned back at the US-Canada border in late September 2025. She and her husband were shackled at wrists, waist, and ankles, held in cells without beds, and transported 12 hours to an ICE detention facility. Upon release, her car battery was dead, houseplants were dead, bills unpaid, credit score damaged, and luggage confiscated and never returned. Another British tourist, Rebecca Burke, was detained for 19 days and warned others not to visit the US under Trump.

Supporting reports

• Class-action lawsuit filed against Trump administration for arrests at immigration courts — Twelve immigrants and advocacy groups filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court (D.C.) on July 16, 2025, alleging that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security coordinated to arrest and deport people attending immigration hearings. The plaintiffs claim the administration stripped due-process rights under immigration law and the Fifth Amendment, placing detainees in expedited removal without hearings. The suit challenges ICE and immigration court guidance as arbitrary and capricious, seeking to vacate those directives.
• Immigrants and advocates sue DHS over courthouse arrests — A group of immigrants and legal advocates sued the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and ICE as part of a class-action lawsuit arguing that the arrests of thousands of people at courthouses violate immigration law and the Constitution. The lawsuit challenges the practice of arresting immigrants at courthouses where they appear for legal proceedings.
• Federal immigration enforcement conducts mass courthouse detentions at Manhattan federal building — On 16 July 2025, federal immigration agents conducted multiple detentions at the Jacob K Javits federal building in Manhattan, apprehending individuals both during and immediately after immigration hearings. The Guardian documented detentions of at least five people, including a father separated from his family and individuals granted follow-up hearings. Agents held detainees in stairwells and the building's 10th floor. The practice reflects the Trump administration's stated goal of arresting 3,000 people daily and has prompted a class-action lawsuit challenging courthouse arrest tactics.

Supporting reports

• Federal immigration enforcement conducts mass courthouse detentions at Manhattan federal building — On 16 July 2025, federal immigration agents conducted multiple detentions at the Jacob K Javits federal building in Manhattan, apprehending individuals both during and immediately after immigration hearings. The Guardian documented detentions of at least five people, including a father separated from his family and individuals granted follow-up hearings. Agents held detainees in stairwells and the building's 10th floor. The practice reflects the Trump administration's stated goal of arresting 3,000 people daily and has prompted a class-action lawsuit challenging courthouse arrest tactics.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents arrest US citizen Andrea Velez in downtown Los Angeles without identifying themselves — On June 24, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in plainclothes and gaiter masks forcibly detained Andrea Velez, a 32-year-old US citizen, during a street operation in downtown Los Angeles. Velez was dragged into an unmarked SUV without being told why. The Department of Justice subsequently charged her with assaulting a federal officer, a felony carrying up to 20 years imprisonment. Sixteen days later, prosecutors dismissed the charges after Velez's attorney requested body-worn footage and witness statements that the government could not produce. Video evidence showed Velez did not resist and appeared to be standing still when taken.
• US citizen arrested during ICE raid in Los Angeles — Andrea Velez, a 32-year-old US citizen and Cal Poly Pomona graduate, was arrested by ICE agents during an immigration raid in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. Witnesses reported agents did not request identification and used force, lifting her off the ground. Her family, including her mother (a resident alien) and sister, were present and screamed for help. Authorities did not inform the family of her whereabouts for over a day. DHS claimed she assaulted an ICE officer; no charges have been formally disclosed. The incident reflects a pattern of US citizens being swept up in the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations.
• Andrea Velez, U.S. citizen, detained by ICE during immigration raid and charged with felony obstruction — On June 24, 2025, Andrea Velez, a U.S. citizen, was swept up in an immigration raid in Los Angeles while on her way to work. ICE officers knocked her to the ground, and despite her declaring her citizenship, detained and led her to a car. Believing she was being kidnapped, Velez attempted to run to nearby police officers before ICE agents caught her. She spent two nights in jail and was charged with a felony for obstructing an officer, a charge the Justice Department dropped two weeks later.
• Department of Justice charges Andrea Velez with felony assault on federal officer — Following her June 24 arrest, the DOJ charged Andrea Velez, a 4-foot-11-inch US citizen, with assaulting a federal officer based on an affidavit claiming she extended her arm into an officer's path. Velez denied the allegation, stating she never touched anyone. The charge carried a potential 20-year sentence. Prosecutors later moved to dismiss the charges sixteen days after her arrest when Velez's attorney requested body-worn footage and witness statements that the government could not produce.

Supporting reports

• US citizen arrested during ICE raid in Los Angeles — Andrea Velez, a 32-year-old US citizen and Cal Poly Pomona graduate, was arrested by ICE agents during an immigration raid in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. Witnesses reported agents did not request identification and used force, lifting her off the ground. Her family, including her mother (a resident alien) and sister, were present and screamed for help. Authorities did not inform the family of her whereabouts for over a day. DHS claimed she assaulted an ICE officer; no charges have been formally disclosed. The incident reflects a pattern of US citizens being swept up in the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations.

Supporting reports

• EEOC sends text survey to Barnard College employees asking religious/national origin identity — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sent unsolicited text messages to Barnard College employees on their personal phones, linking to a voluntary survey asking whether recipients are Jewish, Israeli, practice Judaism, or have Jewish/Israeli ancestry. The survey was part of a Trump administration investigation into alleged antisemitism at the college. Barnard's general counsel confirmed the college had received no advance notice and that the EEOC was legally entitled to obtain employee contact information. Faculty expressed alarm that the survey effectively creates a list of Jewish employees and represents unprecedented surveillance intruding into personal devices.

Supporting reports

• DHS sent removal notice to US-born immigration lawyer — Nicole Micheroni, a US-born American citizen and Massachusetts immigration attorney, received an email from Trump administration immigration authorities on April 11 stating "It is time for you to leave the United States" and threatening law enforcement action if she did not depart immediately. DHS later claimed the notice may have been sent in error because her name appeared on client paperwork. The incident occurred amid aggressive Trump administration deportation efforts targeting both non-citizens and, according to public statements, potentially US citizens.
• Government sends erroneous deportation notices to U.S. citizens — The government mistakenly sent deportation notices to U.S. citizens, green card holders, and even a Canadian, threatening them with termination of their parole and demanding they leave the U.S. within seven days.
• Government sent erroneous deportation notices to U.S. citizens, green card holders, and foreign nationals — The government sent threatening emails to U.S. citizens, green card holders, and even a Canadian resident in Canada, terminating "your parole" and giving them seven days to leave the U.S. The notices were sent in error as part of the automated deportation system. The administration's attempt to automate mass deportation operations has produced widespread errors affecting people with legal status and foreign nationals outside U.S. jurisdiction.

Supporting reports

• 60 Minutes investigation found 75% of deported men had no criminal record — A 60 Minutes investigation found that 75% of 238 men the Trump administration sent to El Salvador last month had no criminal record, and the vast majority of those who did were convicted of non-violent crimes like shoplifting and trespassing.
• CBS News reported 75% of Venezuelans deported to El Salvador lack criminal convictions — CBS News's 60 Minutes reported that 75% of the Venezuelans the Trump administration sent to prison in El Salvador have no apparent criminal convictions or criminal charges. Another 22% have records for nonviolent crimes such as shoplifting or trespassing. Only a dozen or so are accused of serious crimes including murder, rape, assault, or kidnapping. When reporters asked the Department of Homeland Security about these numbers, a spokesperson claimed that those without criminal records "are actually terrorists, human rights abusers, gangsters, and more; they just don't have a rap sheet in the U.S."
• Report on Venezuelan Deportations Raises Due Process Concerns — A report revealed that 75% of Venezuelans deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration had no criminal convictions, raising alarms about the treatment of migrants and the lack of due process. The Department of Homeland Security defended the deportations, claiming that those without records are still dangerous.
• Ruling affirmed — Abrego Garcia v. Noem (D. Md.) 8:25-cv-00951 — Defendants submitted a Response to the Order stating that the government could not provide information in response to the April 10 order by the designated time of 9:30AM ET on April 11. After a hearing in which the government did not provide answers, the judge issued an Order stating “counsel [for the Defendant] could not confirm, and thus did not advance any evidence, that Defendants had done anything to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return. This remained Defendants' position even after this Court reminded them that the Supreme Court of the United States expressly affirmed this Court's authority to require the Government ‘facilitate' Abrego Garcia's return” (emphasis in original). The order requires the Defendant to provide a daily update of actions taken to facilitate his return.
• Trump administration deported individuals to El Salvador without court hearings based on alleged gang tattoos — Since taking office, the Trump administration has deported hundreds of individuals it alleges are members of Tren de Aragua to a notorious prison in El Salvador without court hearings. Recent legal challenges have raised questions about the accuracy of gang allegations, with lawyers arguing that some deportees were misidentified based solely on tattoos. Cases include a man deported for a crown tattoo inspired by Real Madrid's logo and a makeup artist deported after officials deemed his crown tattoos—referencing Three Kings Epiphany celebrations—proof of gang membership. The pattern suggests systemic reliance on unreliable tattoo-based identification.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration ICE arrests Venezuelan TPS holders despite legal protections — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been unlawfully arresting and detaining Venezuelans with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) at their homes, workplaces, during check-ins, and on streets across Virginia, New York, Texas, and New Mexico. Despite federal law explicitly prohibiting detention of TPS holders based on immigration status, attorneys report detainees have been held for weeks without legal justification. The Trump administration's Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attempted to revoke TPS for Venezuelans, though a federal judge paused that action on April 7, 2025. Lawyers suggest ICE may be pre-emptively detaining TPS holders in preparation for potential mass deportations.
• Federal judge pauses Kristi Noem's attempt to revoke Venezuelan TPS — A federal judge issued an order pausing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's attempt to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans, which was set to take effect on April 7, 2025. The judge found that revoking TPS for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans would "inflict irreparable harm" on hundreds of thousands of people, cost the U.S. billions in economic activity, and injure public health and safety. The Trump administration had moved quickly to revoke the protections after taking office, despite the Biden administration's prior extension of TPS for Venezuelans facing persecution and humanitarian crisis.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention of Turkish student for co-authoring Gaza op-ed — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department had canceled at least 300 student visas related to pro-Palestinian protests. The number has more than doubled since the announcement. The visa revocations target individuals connected to US universities who have expressed public support for Palestinians or participated in pro-Palestine demonstrations, without providing affected students opportunity to protect their rights before their legal status changed.
• ICE detains Tufts doctoral student and transfers her to Louisiana before court order — Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained by ICE agents on Tuesday, March 25, outside her home in Somerville, Massachusetts. On Wednesday, she was transferred to a detention center in Basile, Louisiana. On Thursday, federal judge Indira Talwani issued an order requiring the government to explain why Ozturk was being detained. DOJ lawyers acknowledged that the transfer to Louisiana occurred before the court's Tuesday order directing ICE not to move her out of Massachusetts without prior notice. DHS terminated her student visa and accused her of supporting Hamas without providing evidence, citing her pro-Palestinian activism at Tufts.
• ICE detains Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk on visa revocation over pro-Palestinian activism — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, wearing masks and hoodies, detained Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and Tufts University doctoral student, on the street in Somerville, Massachusetts on Tuesday. She was transferred to a Louisiana detention center despite a federal court order requiring 48 hours' notice before removal from Massachusetts. DHS accused her of supporting Hamas without providing evidence, citing her pro-Palestinian activism and op-ed criticizing Israel's Gaza campaign. A federal judge ordered DHS and ICE to respond by Thursday morning to an emergency motion to produce her and justify the detention.
• Tufts student detained by ICE reports medical neglect and civil rights violations in Louisiana facility — Rümeysa Öztürk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University detained by ICE on March 25, 2025, filed a court declaration describing multiple asthma attacks while held at the South Louisiana ICE processing center in Basile. She alleges denial of medical care, unsanitary conditions, and a nurse forcibly removing her hijab without consent. Her attorneys petitioned federal court in Vermont for her release or transfer while her case proceeds. The facility, operated by private contractor Geo Group, has faced prior complaints of medical neglect and inhumane conditions.
• Federal authorities detain Tufts University international student on alleged Hamas support — On Tuesday, March 25, federal authorities in plain clothes took Tufts University international student Rumeysa Ozturk into custody on a street in Somerville, Massachusetts, alleging she had "engaged in activities in support of Hamas." The alleged basis for detention was a pro-Palestinian op-ed she had written for the Tufts newspaper. On Wednesday, March 26, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed she was being held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in Louisiana.
• Rumeysa Ozturk arrested by masked ICE agents — Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish student at Tufts University who co-wrote an op-ed criticizing the school's response to the pro-Palestinian movement, was arrested by plainclothes masked immigration officers in Somerville, Massachusetts, as she was on her way to break her Ramadan fast. She was taken to several detention centers before being flown to a Louisiana ICE facility, despite a court order that said she wasn't supposed to be taken out of the state without notice.
• ICE detains Tufts student on visa revocation; alleged retaliation for pro-Palestinian speech — Rümeysa Öztürk was arrested by ICE on Tuesday in a Boston suburb while heading to an Iftar dinner during Ramadan. DHS revoked her visa, claiming she engaged in activities supporting Hamas but providing no evidence. Her attorneys allege the detention is retaliation for an opinion piece she co-authored advocating Palestinian rights. ICE transferred her to Louisiana without notifying her counsel or the court, violating a prior judicial order. She suffered an asthma attack during transport and was unreachable for nearly a full day.
• ICE detains Tufts doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk and transfers to Louisiana detention center — Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student and Fulbright scholar at Tufts University, was detained by ICE agents in plainclothes near her apartment and transferred to an ICE detention center in Louisiana. The Department of Homeland Security accused her of supporting Hamas but provided no evidence. Her detention appeared linked to her co-authorship of a March 2024 opinion piece in the Tufts student newspaper supporting Palestinian rights. A federal judge had ordered DHS to provide advance notice before transferring her out of state; ICE records suggest this order was violated.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention of farm worker activist Alfredo Juarez Zeferino — On 25 March 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained farm worker activist Alfredo "Lelo" Juarez Zeferino, 25, during a traffic stop north of Seattle. Officers broke his car window and transferred him to an unmarked ICE facility, then to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, where he remains held. Colleagues and legal advocates assert the detention is politically motivated retaliation for his labor organizing, including successful campaigns for farm worker heat protections, overtime pay, and H-2A guest worker oversight. ICE and DHS deny political targeting, citing a 2018 deportation order stemming from a 2015 traffic stop.