Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• DOJ sues Hawaii and Michigan to block climate accountability litigation — The Department of Justice took the unusual step of suing Hawaii and Michigan over their plans to file climate accountability litigation against fossil fuel companies. Hawaii filed its case just hours after the DOJ action, characterizing the federal suit as intimidation. The action represented a direct federal effort to prevent states from pursuing legal remedies against the oil industry.

Supporting reports

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

Supporting reports

• Chicago mayor orders police to document ICE agents for prosecution — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a command to city police in January 2026 to document federal immigration agents' conduct, establishing a foundation for potential criminal prosecution of ICE and Border Patrol agents for misconduct. The directive aims to create evidentiary records that could support lawsuits and criminal charges when residents are injured or wrongfully charged by immigration enforcement officials.

Supporting reports

• DHS launched "Operation Puppet Master" to surveil leftwing groups and anti-ICE protesters — The Department of Homeland Security conducted extensive surveillance of progressive organizations and anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis and New York City in early 2026. Internal DHS reports, disclosed in a criminal case against 15 Minneapolis protesters, reveal the agency sent undercover agents to community meetings, infiltrated encrypted Signal chats, obtained financial records of unions and nonprofits including AFL-CIO and SEIU, and made audio recordings of activist gatherings. The operation, titled "Operation Puppet Master," targeted groups opposing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement surge following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Supporting reports

• Fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent in Minneapolis — Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in early January 2026 while observing ICE activity near her home in Minneapolis. Good was an unarmed civilian engaged in community monitoring of immigration enforcement operations.

Supporting reports

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

Supporting reports

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

Supporting reports

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

Supporting reports

• Pam Bondi's letter to Governor Walz linking voter files to immigration enforcement — Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in January suggesting that if he turned over the state's voter files, violent attacks by federal immigration enforcement agencies could end. Legal experts characterized this as coercive and inappropriate, using the threat of continued violence to pressure a state official into surrendering voter data.

Supporting reports

• Philadelphia prosecutors form coalition to prosecute federal agents — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and prosecutors from multiple U.S. cities formed the Project for the Fight Against Federal Overreach (Fafo) coalition in January 2026 to share strategies for prosecuting federal agents who violate state law. The coalition includes district attorneys from Minneapolis, Austin, Dallas, Arlington, and Pima County, Arizona, and aims to create coordinated legal accountability for federal immigration enforcement misconduct.

Supporting reports

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

Supporting reports

• Trump granted pardons to white-collar crime convicts including fraudsters — Since retaking office in January 2026, President Trump granted presidential pardons to dozens of people convicted of white-collar crimes, including several individuals convicted of fraud. The pardons occurred while the administration simultaneously launched a "fraud czar" initiative targeting Democratic states.

Supporting reports

• Chicago jury acquits border patrol hit-plot defendant — A Chicago jury acquitted Juan Espinoza Martinez in January 2026 of charges brought by the Trump administration alleging he had plotted a hit on a high-profile border patrol official. The acquittal represents another collapse of a case brought against individuals in connection with immigration enforcement operations.

Supporting reports

• DOJ releases Epstein records in batches but survivors report missing files — Since Trump signed the Epstein Records Act into law on 19 November 2025, the Department of Justice has released multiple batches of records, including approximately 3 million records in January 2026. However, survivors and lawmakers report that critical materials remain withheld or redacted, including FBI interview files of survivors themselves. DOJ has stated that all responsive documents have been produced unless they are duplicates, privileged, or part of ongoing investigations, but survivors and lawmakers dispute this claim and have raised concerns about unlawful withholding and exposure of survivor personal information.

Supporting reports

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

Supporting reports

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

Supporting reports

• Off-duty ICE agent Brian Palacios fatally shoots Keith Porter Jr in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve; family demands charges — Keith Porter Jr, a 43-year-old father of two, was shot and killed by off-duty ICE officer Brian Palacios outside his apartment complex in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve. Official accounts differ sharply: DHS claimed Palacios acted in self-defense against an "active shooter"; Porter's family and attorney argue Porter was celebrating the new year and posed no threat. No video footage exists. The LA District Attorney's office is investigating whether the officer acted lawfully. Community activists, politicians, and celebrities have mobilized demanding Palacios's arrest and prosecution, citing DHS's documented history of false claims about people killed by federal agents.

Supporting reports

• DOJ reviewing 5+ million pages of Epstein files with expanded legal resources and delayed release timeline — The US Department of Justice is reviewing more than 5 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, drawing prosecutors from national security and criminal divisions across multiple US attorneys' offices. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the effort would extend beyond the congressionally mandated December 19 deadline to at least January 20, 2026, with approximately 400 lawyers enlisted to assist. Senator Chuck Schumer accused DOJ officials of lying about the scope, noting fewer than 40,000 pages released represent less than 0.01% of total documents.
• DOJ reviewing 5.2 million previously undisclosed Epstein documents — The Justice Department announced it is reviewing approximately 5.2 million pages of records related to Jeffrey Epstein that were never previously turned over to the public or courts. Federal officials are enlisting roughly 400 lawyers to process the material, with a timeline extending into late January 2026. The disclosure contradicts an earlier statement made days before Christmas that the total amounted to around one million pages. The scale of the newly discovered records raises questions about the completeness of prior document productions and the adequacy of initial disclosures.
• Department of Justice acknowledges five million additional Epstein-related documents exist — The Department of Justice acknowledged that approximately five million additional documents related to Jeffrey Epstein exist beyond what has already been disclosed to the public. Less than five percent of the total material has been produced so far. House Oversight Democrats characterized this as a blatant violation of federal law and raised questions about what information is being withheld and why.

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

• FBI deploys additional resources to Minnesota; Kash Patel announces $250m Covid fraud dismantling and targets Somali population — FBI director Kash Patel announced on social media that the FBI has deployed additional personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to "dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs." Patel cited a $250m federal food aid fraud scheme uncovered during the Covid pandemic that resulted in 78 indictments and 57 convictions. Patel stated the FBI believes this is "just the tip of a very large iceberg" and said some defendants are being referred to immigration officials for possible denaturalization and deportation. The deployment occurs amid the Trump administration's public attacks on Minnesota's Somali population and Democratic governor Tim Walz.
• FBI director Patel announces referrals of fraud defendants to immigration officials for denaturalization and deportation proceedings — FBI director Kash Patel announced that individuals involved in the alleged $250m Covid fraud scheme are being "referred to immigrations officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible." This represents a coordinated effort to use immigration enforcement as a secondary punishment mechanism for individuals involved in fraud schemes, with explicit targeting of those eligible for denaturalization based on their immigrant status.

Supporting reports

• ICE enforcement actions target Somali constituents in Minnesota, including questioning of Representative Omar's son — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have conducted enforcement actions in Minnesota targeting Somali constituents, including questioning Representative Ilhan Omar's son. Omar has reported that ICE agents are "pulling her constituents off the streets" and that she herself is being pressured to address questions about her own immigration status. Omar characterized the Trump administration's immigration policy as "cruel" during the first term and now "outright dangerous and severely inhumane" and "geared towards this sort of white supremacist view of what America should be."

Supporting reports

• ICE enforcement operations targeting undocumented healthcare workers, including arrests at workplaces and immigration check-in appointments — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has conducted arrests of undocumented immigrants, including healthcare workers, at workplaces and immigration check-in appointments. Filipino healthcare workers—who comprise approximately 4% of registered nurses in the US—report heightened anxiety and fear of deportation. The enforcement has created a chilling effect on essential healthcare provision, with workers limiting their mobility and patients losing access to care. Approximately 2% of undocumented immigrants in the US are from the Philippines, many of whom work in healthcare roles critical to filling labor gaps in the US healthcare system.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge dismisses indictment against TikTok streamer shot by ICE agents — US District Judge Fernando Olguin dismissed an indictment against Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a Los Angeles TikTok creator, who was shot by an immigration agent during an October enforcement operation. The judge cited constitutional violations, including ICE's obstruction of Parias's access to his defense team at the Adelanto detention center and the government's failure to timely disclose body-worn camera footage of the shooting. The indictment was dismissed with prejudice, barring prosecutors from refiling assault charges.

Supporting reports

• DOJ Accused of Limiting Release of Epstein Files — Indivisible has accused the Department of Justice (DOJ) of breaking the law by redacting and limiting the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The organization is urging continued pressure on Republicans to ensure full transparency and accountability for those involved. This situation raises concerns about the DOJ's commitment to transparency and the potential shielding of powerful individuals from accountability.

Supporting reports

• Federal Judge Rules Against DOJ in Comey Case — A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Justice unlawfully seized attorney-client communications in the failed prosecution of James Comey. The judge ordered the return of the materials, but the DOJ missed the deadline and filed an emergency motion for more time, citing staffing shortages. The case highlights issues of competence and legality within the DOJ under the Trump administration.