Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• 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.
• US deports Venezuelan makeup artist to El Salvador prison based on crown tattoos misidentified as gang symbols — Andry José Hernández Romero, a 31-year-old Venezuelan gay makeup artist and hairdresser, was detained after crossing the US border in August 2024 to attend an asylum appointment. He claimed persecution based on sexual orientation and political views. US immigration officers at Otay Mesa detention centre classified his two wrist crown tattoos—a religious and cultural tradition commemorating Three Kings Day celebrations in his hometown of Capacho—as evidence of membership in the Tren de Aragua gang. On 15 March 2025, Hernández was deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador as part of Trump's mass deportation campaign, despite having no criminal record and community attestations of innocence.

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• Trump administration detains and attempts to deport Maryland teenager under Alien Enemies Act — Javier Salazar, a 19-year-old Venezuelan who arrived in the US as an unaccompanied minor in 2022 and was attending school with no criminal record, was arrested by ICE agents in Maryland in mid-March 2025 based on alleged gang affiliation determined from social media images (reportedly a toy water pistol). He was transferred to detention facilities in Virginia and Texas, then loaded onto a deportation bus headed to El Salvador on April 30, 2025. A last-minute Supreme Court emergency order blocked the removal, but the administration claims it will continue deportations if courts deny emergency stays, allowing only 12–24 hours for detainees to contest removal.

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• Trump administration expelled second MS-13 Ranfla leader to El Salvador in March — In mid-March 2025, the Trump administration dismissed federal charges against Cesar Humberto López-Larios, another top MS-13 Ranfla Nacional member facing similar racketeering and terrorism charges in New York, and expelled him to El Salvador to be detained at Cecot prison. López-Larios, like Arevalo-Chavez, reportedly possessed knowledge of Bukele's 2019 secret pact with MS-13. The expulsion follows a pattern of the administration facilitating the removal of MS-13 leaders who could testify about the Bukele-gang negotiations.

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• Trump administration revokes visas and terminates legal status of 1,000+ international students — The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security has revoked visas or terminated legal status for at least 901 students across 128 colleges and universities since mid-March 2025, with some sources citing over 1,300 affected students. Students report being targeted for minor infractions such as traffic violations or for unclear reasons. International students have filed lawsuits against DHS arguing lack of due process. A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a restraining order in one case. The administration has cited pro-Palestinian activism in some high-profile cases but colleges report no protest involvement in the vast majority of revocations.

Supporting reports

• US deports Venezuelan makeup artist to El Salvador prison based on crown tattoos misidentified as gang symbols — Andry José Hernández Romero, a 31-year-old Venezuelan gay makeup artist and hairdresser, was detained after crossing the US border in August 2024 to attend an asylum appointment. He claimed persecution based on sexual orientation and political views. US immigration officers at Otay Mesa detention centre classified his two wrist crown tattoos—a religious and cultural tradition commemorating Three Kings Day celebrations in his hometown of Capacho—as evidence of membership in the Tren de Aragua gang. On 15 March 2025, Hernández was deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador as part of Trump's mass deportation campaign, despite having no criminal record and community attestations of innocence.

Supporting reports

• 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.

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.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration revokes visas and terminates legal status of 1,000+ international students — The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security has revoked visas or terminated legal status for at least 901 students across 128 colleges and universities since mid-March 2025, with some sources citing over 1,300 affected students. Students report being targeted for minor infractions such as traffic violations or for unclear reasons. International students have filed lawsuits against DHS arguing lack of due process. A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a restraining order in one case. The administration has cited pro-Palestinian activism in some high-profile cases but colleges report no protest involvement in the vast majority of revocations.

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• DOJ fires pardon attorney — The Department of Justice fired its pardon attorney after the attorney refused to recommend restoring gun rights for actor Mel Gibson. This firing raises questions about the politicization of the pardon process.

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• Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared operational details of Yemen military strike on Signal — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted operational details of the forthcoming March 15 Yemen military strike in the Signal group chat, including specific targets, weapons systems to be deployed, and attack sequencing. Despite promising colleagues he would "enforce 100% OPSEC," Hegseth's messages contained classified information about military operations that could have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel if intercepted by adversaries.
• Trump administration officials planned Yemen military strike using unsecured Signal app — Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported that senior Trump administration officials—including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz—coordinated the March 15 U.S. military attack on Houthis in Yemen via Signal, a commercial encrypted messaging app not approved for national security use. Goldberg was inadvertently included in the chat and received operational details including specific targets, weapons systems, and attack sequencing. The use of Signal violated federal law requiring government communications be archived and potentially violated the Espionage Act.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth violated rules sharing Yemen strike details on Signal — The Department of Defense Inspector General released an unclassified report finding that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated departmental policies by sharing operational details about planned military airstrikes in Yemen through a personal Signal group chat on March 15, 2025. The report concluded that if foreign adversaries intercepted the information, it could have endangered US troops. Hegseth claimed the information was unclassified or that he had authority to declassify it; he posted on X denying wrongdoing. Democratic Senator Mark Warner called for his resignation.
• Secretary of Defense Hegseth shares classified military plans on unsecured Signal chats — On March 15, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared detailed classified plans of a military strike against the Houthis in Yemen on an unsecured Signal chat that included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. On the same day, Hegseth shared similar detailed classified information on a different Signal chat that he had created in January on his personal phone for strategizing with his closest allies. This second chat included approximately a dozen people, including his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. Four sources with knowledge of the second chat spoke to reporters, indicating deep dissatisfaction with Hegseth within the Pentagon.

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• Trump criticizes DOJ in speech — President Donald Trump delivered a speech at the Department of Justice, which was intended to highlight the administration's focus on illegal immigration and drug trafficking. However, Trump used the opportunity to express personal grievances against the department, particularly regarding criminal cases he claims to have defeated since returning to the presidency. This event was characterized as a political victory lap by Trump.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration deports Venezuelans despite court order — The Trump administration deported approximately 250 alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, invoking the Alien Enemies Act. This action occurred despite a verbal order from U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg to halt the deportations and return any flights already in progress. The administration argued that the deportees were no longer in U.S. territory when the order was issued, thus claiming the order was not applicable. A hearing was scheduled to address the administration's compliance with the court order.
• US deports 250 alleged gang members to El Salvador despite court ruling — The US deported over 250 alleged gang members to El Salvador, defying a US federal judge's ruling to halt the flights. The deportations were justified by invoking the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law. The deportees included members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran gang MS-13. The US administration claimed the judge had no authority to block the deportations, while the judge had ordered flights to return. The deportations are part of a deal with El Salvador to hold the individuals in a large detention center.
• Administration violates court order on deportations — Reports indicated that the Trump administration may have violated Judge Boasberg's order by allowing deportation flights to proceed despite the restraining order. The judge had ordered that any planes in the air carrying the targeted individuals be returned to the United States, but flights continued to El Salvador.
• Trump administration defies court order on deportations — The Trump administration did not recall deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants despite a federal judge's instructions. The administration argued that the judge's verbal instructions were not included in the formal written order, and thus did not need to be followed. The deportation flights, which had already taken off, landed in El Salvador. The administration's actions have raised questions about the limits of judicial authority and the administration's compliance with court orders.

Supporting reports

• Executive Order on Paul Weiss Risks — President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14237 to address risks associated with the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. The order mandates a review of security clearances for individuals at Paul Weiss, cessation of government services to the firm, and a review of government contracts involving the firm. The order aims to prevent taxpayer funds from supporting activities deemed harmful to American interests, including racial discrimination and actions inconsistent with national security.
• Executive Order: Addressing Risks From Paul Weiss — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 14, 2025, targeting the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. The order mandates a review and potential suspension of security clearances for individuals at the firm, citing national interest concerns. It also directs federal agencies to cease providing goods and services to Paul Weiss and to review and potentially terminate contracts with the firm. The order aims to prevent taxpayer dollars from supporting activities deemed inconsistent with American interests, including alleged racial discrimination and actions against national security.
• Trump signed executive order targeting law firm Paul Weiss with security clearance suspensions, contract terminations, and personnel restrictions. — President Trump signed an executive order on March 14, 2025, directing federal agencies to suspend security clearances held by Paul Weiss employees, terminate government contracts with the firm, restrict employee access to federal buildings, and limit hiring of firm personnel. The order cites the firm's representation of January 6 defendants, employment of former prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, and alleged racial discrimination in hiring. Agencies must submit compliance assessments within 30 days.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order suspending security clearances for Paul Weiss law firm employees — The White House published a fact sheet stating that President Trump signed an executive order suspending security clearances held by employees of Paul Weiss law firm and attorney Mark Pomerantz, pending review of whether such clearances align with the national interest. The order directs the federal government to halt material and services to the firm, restrict building access, terminate contracts, and refrain from hiring its employees unless authorized. The fact sheet characterizes the firm's practices as warranting civil rights review under Title VII.

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• Emil Bove directs DOJ lawyers to disregard potential court orders on migrant deportations — On March 14, 2025, Emil Bove, the third-highest official at the DOJ, met with lawyers in the immigration section and told them that Trump would invoke the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport more than 100 Venezuelan migrants without due process. Bove stated that "those planes need to take off, no matter what" and told attendees that if a court issued an order preventing the deportation, the DOJ "may have to consider telling that court, 'f*** you.'" The statement was made to career attorneys and signaled willingness to defy federal court orders.

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• Trump addresses DOJ and attacks prosecutors and investigators — On 14 March, President Trump addressed a Department of Justice gathering and proclaimed his intent to end the "weaponization" of law against him. He singled out former special counsel Jack Smith and lawyer Marc Elias, calling them "bad people" who "tried to turn America into a corrupt communist and third-world country." Trump's speech was characterized as vindictive and historically revisionist regarding his role in inciting the January 6 Capitol attack and his false claims about the 2020 election.

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• Trump dismisses corruption case against New York mayor — President Donald Trump, during a speech at the Department of Justice, praised his defense lawyer Emil Bove for forcing the dismissal of a corruption case against New York mayor Eric Adams. This action was part of Trump's broader effort to assert control over the Justice Department, which he has been accused of turning into an extension of the White House. The dismissal reflects Trump's influence over legal proceedings and his administration's approach to handling cases involving political figures.

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• Mass detention and covert deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador without notification or due process — Federal immigration agents detained scores of Venezuelan migrants in the US without informing families of their whereabouts or charges. At least 252 Venezuelans, including Neiyerver Rengel (detained March 13 in Irving, Texas) and Ricardo Prada Vásquez (detained January in Detroit), were secretly flown to El Salvador's "terrorism confinement" prison on allegations of gang affiliation, with no public registry of names, charges, or conditions. Families learned of detainees' locations only through news reports weeks later. The Department of Homeland Security has refused to publish a register of prisoners' names or provide due-process information.

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• Federal judges rule against Musk's firings — Two federal judges issued rulings against Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency" (Doge) regarding the firing of probationary employees. Judge William H. Alsup in California ruled that fired employees must be offered their jobs back, criticizing the process as a "sham." In Maryland, Judge James Bredar issued a temporary restraining order blocking further firings at 18 federal agencies. These rulings challenge Musk's cost-cutting measures, which have faced public disapproval and legal scrutiny.
• Judge orders reinstatement of federal workers — U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that federal agencies must immediately offer jobs back to thousands of probationary workers who were purged from the government early in President Trump's administration. The judge stated that the mass firings did not follow legal protocols. Additionally, Judge James Bredar ordered the reinstatement of these workers across multiple federal departments, indicating that the government likely engaged in an illegal scheme regarding the firings.
• U.S. District Judge Bredar Orders Reinstatement of Probationary Workers — U.S. District Judge James Bredar ordered the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of probationary workers across multiple federal departments, indicating that the government likely engaged in an illegal scheme regarding the firings. Bredar criticized the administration's claim that the dismissals were based on individual performance assessments, stating that no such assessments were made.

Supporting reports

• DOJ subpoenas New York migrant shelter — The Department of Justice under the Trump administration issued a criminal subpoena to a Manhattan hotel that houses undocumented immigrants. The subpoena demands a list of full names, dates of birth, nationality, and identification numbers of the residents, as well as information about New York City government officials involved in funding the shelter programs. This action is part of the administration's intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants and has sparked criticism from immigration advocates.
• Justice Department subpoenas migrant shelter for resident names — The Trump administration's Justice Department issued a criminal subpoena to a Manhattan hotel providing shelter to undocumented immigrants, demanding the names of residents. This action is part of a broader effort to enforce immigration laws and could lead to increased scrutiny and potential deportation of asylum seekers residing in the shelter.

Supporting reports

• Erroneous deportation of legally resident immigrant to El Salvador — Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant with legal work permit status living in Maryland, was detained by immigration agents on March 12 and subsequently deported to El Salvador in violation of a prior court order. US District Judge Paula Xinis ruled his detention and removal "wholly lawless," finding no legal grounds for arrest or removal and no evidence of criminal conduct. Garcia had complied fully with all immigration directives and was never charged with any crime. The Trump administration had accused him of gang affiliation without evidence or pending charges. Garcia is now detained in El Salvador's Cecot prison.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge orders reinstatement of fired probationary staff — A federal judge in California, William H. Alsup, issued a preliminary injunction to reinstate thousands of probationary federal employees who were fired from six federal agencies. The ruling is part of a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees. The judge criticized the Trump administration's justification for the firings, stating that claims of poor performance were false. The order affects employees from the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Interior, and Treasury. The judge also restricted the Office of Personnel Management from advising agencies on terminations.
• Judge orders Musk to comply with lawsuit — U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to turn over their records and answer questions in response to a lawsuit filed by 14 attorneys general from Democratic-dominated states. They are required to comply within three weeks.
• Judge orders rehiring of federal employees — Judge William Alsup ordered the Trump administration to immediately rehire tens of thousands of federal employees from various departments who were terminated due to Elon Musk's DOGE cuts. The judge criticized the administration for allegedly firing employees under false pretenses of performance issues, calling it a lie and expressing frustration over the lack of transparency in the process.
• Federal judge reinstates fired probationary workers — On March 13, 2025, a federal judge in California granted a preliminary injunction to reinstate thousands of fired probationary workers at federal agencies. This decision was part of a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees. The ruling applies to employees from several departments, including Defense and Veterans Affairs, who were dismissed under claims of poor performance. The judge criticized these claims as false and prohibited the Office of Personnel Management from advising on terminations.
• Federal judges rule against Musk's firings — Two federal judges issued rulings against Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency" (Doge) regarding the firing of probationary employees. Judge William H. Alsup in California ruled that fired employees must be offered their jobs back, criticizing the process as a "sham." In Maryland, Judge James Bredar issued a temporary restraining order blocking further firings at 18 federal agencies. These rulings challenge Musk's cost-cutting measures, which have faced public disapproval and legal scrutiny.
• Judge orders reinstatement of federal workers — U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that federal agencies must immediately offer jobs back to thousands of probationary workers who were purged from the government early in President Trump's administration. The judge stated that the mass firings did not follow legal protocols. Additionally, Judge James Bredar ordered the reinstatement of these workers across multiple federal departments, indicating that the government likely engaged in an illegal scheme regarding the firings.
• Judge rules against mass firings — U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that the mass firings of probationary workers from various federal departments did not comply with legal requirements. The judge expressed skepticism about the government's claims regarding the firings and criticized the lack of transparency in the process.

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• District Judge Howell blocks enforcement of Trump executive order against Perkins Coie — On 12 March, federal District Judge Beryl Howell issued a ruling blocking the Trump administration from enforcing key parts of its executive order against law firm Perkins Coie. The judge stated the order "runs head-on into the wall of first amendment protections," finding that the punitive sanctions violated constitutional protections for attorneys and their clients.
• Judge blocks Trump order against Perkins Coie — A federal judge, Beryl Howell, temporarily blocked a significant portion of an executive order issued by Donald Trump. The order targeted the law firm Perkins Coie, which had ties to Hillary Clinton, by stripping its lawyers of security clearances and barring federal engagement with them. Howell ruled that Trump's use of national security as a pretext to punish the firm was unjustified and likened it to a "bill of attainder," which is unconstitutional. The restraining order halts most of the executive order's effects, except for the revocation of clearances.

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• HHS halts placements at Southwest Key shelters; DOJ dismisses civil abuse lawsuit — The Department of Health and Human Services announced it has stopped placing unaccompanied alien children in shelters operated by Southwest Key Programs Inc. and relocated all children to other facilities. The DOJ, which filed a civil lawsuit in July 2024 alleging Southwest Key employees subjected children to sexual harassment and abuse, dismissed that lawsuit following HHS's action. Southwest Key operated 27 shelters across Texas, Arizona, and California as the largest provider of such facilities in the United States.

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• DHS revokes student visas and conducts searches — Following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, the Department of Homeland Security revoked the student visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, a Columbia PhD student, leading to her self-deportation on March 11, 2025. Additionally, DHS presented warrants and searched the dorm rooms of two students on March 13, 2025. These actions have heightened fears among international students at Columbia University, who feel they are being targeted for their political views and are concerned about their safety and visa status.
• Homeland Security searches Columbia University students' rooms — On Thursday night, agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted searches in two Columbia University students' rooms. The searches were authorized by judicial search warrants signed by a federal magistrate judge. No arrests were made, and no items were removed during the searches. The university's public safety team was present throughout the operation. This action is part of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on American universities, particularly in response to student protests at Columbia over Israel's military actions in Gaza.
• ICE obtained search warrant for Columbia University dorm rooms using false pretenses to arrest pro-Palestinian activist students — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed a search warrant application on March 13, 2025, claiming to investigate Columbia University for "harboring aliens," but attorneys argue the warrant was a pretext to arrest and deport two students—Yunseo Chung (a green card holder) and Ranjani Srinivasan (on a student visa)—for their pro-Palestinian activism. A federal judge granted the warrant; agents subsequently searched two dorm residences. Chung sued to block her deportation, claiming the warrant was obtained under false pretenses. She has since been granted temporary protection from deportation.
• DHS revokes visa of Columbia University student — DHS announced that a Columbia University student from India had her visa revoked and was subsequently self-deported. The agency claimed, without evidence, that she was involved in activities supporting Hamas.

Supporting reports

• Kash Patel relocates FBI agents — Kash Patel, the newly appointed director of the FBI, has relocated up to 1,500 agents from the FBI headquarters at the J Edgar Hoover building in Washington DC. This move is part of a broader strategy under the Trump administration, with Pam Bondi as attorney general, to potentially target leftwing protest groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter. Concerns have been raised about the FBI's focus shifting away from far-right domestic terrorism threats, which experts warn could embolden neo-Nazi groups.