Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• USCIS policy memo requiring green card applicants to return to home countries for processing — The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under Department of Homeland Security oversight, issued a policy memo on Friday requiring foreign nationals seeking to adjust immigration status and obtain green cards to do so from outside the United States via the State Department, rather than through the existing "adjustment of status" process available to those already in the country. The policy affects over 1 million immigrants currently waiting on green cards and will likely force applicants—particularly in mixed-status families—to leave jobs, homes, and relationships for unknown periods. The change reverses a process unchanged for over 60 years.

Supporting reports

• Detainees at Delaney Hall ICE facility engage in hunger and labor strike over conditions; families report medical neglect and inhumane treatment — Immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, a private ICE jail in New Jersey run by Geo Group, launched a hunger and labor strike beginning May 22 to protest substandard conditions including medical neglect, expired food, and inadequate sanitation. Elder Guerra, a Guatemalan immigrant held for five months, suffered a serious head injury in mid-May and was placed in medical isolation without adequate recovery care. Families report distress over visitation restrictions and fear of retaliation. Congressional oversight visits confirmed detainees' claims. DHS and Geo Group deny allegations while detainees report ongoing threats and discrimination from staff.
• Hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall enters third week with women joining — The hunger and labor strike at the GEO Group-run Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, which began May 22 with approximately 300 detainees, entered its third week in June with dozens of detained women joining. Strikers cited medical neglect, spoiled food, lack of sanitation, denial of bond, and coercion to sign deportation documents. Demands include firing a guard accused of sexually assaulting at least 10 detained women. ICE responded by transferring most original hunger strikers to other facilities.
• Hunger and labor strike by detainees at Delaney Hall enters ninth day — On May 22, approximately 300–400 detainees at Delaney Hall immigration detention center began a hunger and labor strike demanding improved conditions, medical care, a meeting with Governor Sherrill, and expedited processing of their immigration cases. The strike continued through the week of protests, with detainees refusing food and work. The strike prompted family visitation cancellations and sparked external protests in support of the detainees' demands.
• Delaney Hall detainees begin hunger strike over case processing delays — On May 22, 2026, approximately 300 detainees at Delaney Hall, the largest detention center in the Northeast, began a hunger strike demanding immediate release of young, elderly, and medically vulnerable detainees and protesting that immigration judges are ignoring their cases. Detainees cited violations of Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights and reported that judges are conducting mass deportations without proper case review, disregarding federal court habeas corpus rulings, and processing cases at an unsustainable rate—one judge handling 74 cases in a single day.

Supporting reports

• Sixteen states set all-time Memorial Day gas price records — Gas market analyst Patrick De Haan reported that 16 states are on track to set new all-time Memorial Day gas price records in 2026, surpassing the highs set in 2022. The affected states are Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Supporting reports

• Trump dismisses economic impact of Iran War as "peanuts" despite $43.6 billion in additional fuel costs — President Trump stated that high gas prices caused by the Iran War amount to "peanuts" and said he does not consider Americans' financial situations when negotiating with Iran. According to The Iran War Energy Cost Tracker at Brown University, the conflict has caused Americans to spend an additional $43.6 billion on fuel costs, with the average U.S. household paying an extra $331 in combined gasoline and diesel expenses. Trump doubled down on earlier comments dismissing the economic burden, saying it was worth paying "a little more" for gasoline to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
• Trump minimized Iran War fuel-cost impact despite $43.6 billion in household expenses — President Trump compared high gas prices caused by the Iran War to "peanuts," downplaying their economic impact. However, according to Brown University's Iran War Energy Cost Tracker, Americans have spent an extra $43.6 billion on fuel costs due to the Iran War, with each U.S. household paying over $330 in additional costs across gasoline and diesel.
• Trump delays military assault on Iran at request of Saudi, Emirati, and Qatari leaders — Trump stated that the U.S. military was ready to launch a "full, large scale assault" on Iran on short notice but delayed the attack at the request of leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The article notes that Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law involved in Iran negotiations, receives tens of millions of dollars annually from a Saudi investment fund controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This raises questions about potential conflicts of interest influencing Trump's conduct of the war.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed Executive Order 14406 directing Treasury and financial regulators to issue guidance on detecting and preventing financial services to undocumented immigrants and their employers. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14406 on May 19, 2026, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to issue an advisory within 60 days identifying suspicious financial activity patterns associated with undocumented workers and employers, including payroll tax evasion, use of foreign identity documents, and structuring. The order also directs the Treasury and Federal functional financial regulators to propose and consider changes to Bank Secrecy Act regulations to strengthen customer due diligence and identification requirements, with particular attention to immigration status and work authorization as risk factors. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is directed to clarify that potential deportation and wage loss are factors affecting ability-to-repay determinations for non-work-authorized borrowers.
• Trump issued executive order directing financial regulators to strengthen customer due diligence and credit underwriting standards targeting non-work-authorized immigrants. — President Trump signed "Restoring Integrity to America's Financial System" on May 19, 2026, directing the Treasury Secretary to issue an advisory within 60 days identifying suspicious financial activity patterns associated with undocumented immigrants and their employers, including payroll tax evasion, use of foreign identity documents, and structuring schemes. The order instructs federal financial regulators to propose regulatory changes strengthening customer identification and due diligence requirements, and directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to clarify that deportation risk and wage loss are factors in credit underwriting for non-work-authorized borrowers. Implementation deadlines range from 60 to 180 days.
• White House issued Executive Order 14406 directing financial regulators to implement immigration-status-based lending restrictions and enhanced due diligence requirements — The White House signed Executive Order 14406 on May 19, 2026, directing the Treasury Secretary and federal financial regulators to issue advisories and propose regulatory changes to the Bank Secrecy Act. The order requires financial institutions to flag accounts held by non-work-authorized immigrants and their employers, treat deportation risk as a credit-underwriting factor, and implement enhanced customer due diligence tied to immigration status. The order states the policy is to "restore integrity" to the financial system by addressing risks posed by "the inadmissible and removable alien population" and cross-border financial activity.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting executive orders on financial system regulation and immigration-linked credit risk — The White House published a fact sheet on May 19, 2026, describing executive orders signed by President Trump. The orders direct the Treasury Secretary and federal financial regulators to issue advisories and propose regulatory changes to strengthen customer identification requirements, address credit risks associated with extending financial services to undocumented immigrants, and prevent denial of banking services based on political or religious beliefs. The fact sheet claims the orders target illicit financial activity, money laundering, and fentanyl trafficking while asserting that extending credit to undocumented immigrants creates systemic banking risks that raise costs for American consumers.

Supporting reports

• Governor Hochul reportedly pressures council speaker to block No More 24 Act — Advocates reported that Governor Kathy Hochul has been actively pressuring City Council Speaker Julie Menin to block the No More 24 Act, threatening to withhold Medicaid funding to the city if the bill passes. Hochul's office declined to comment on the allegation. The bill would end mandatory 24-hour shifts for home care workers and cap weekly hours at 56.

Supporting reports

• "Prevention through deterrence" border policy pushes migrants into remote desert terrain — Veteran borderlands volunteers describe a long-standing federal border enforcement strategy known as "prevention through deterrence," which deliberately makes border crossing extremely difficult by forcing migrants away from ports of entry into remote, dangerous desert regions. Volunteers call this policy "deterrence through death." The strategy has intensified with deployment of concertina wire and other barriers, pushing migrants into wilder terrain where heat exposure and dehydration are more likely to be fatal.

Supporting reports

• Border Patrol agents instructed to vandalize water stations left for migrants in desert — Former border patrol agent Jenn Budd, now an immigrant rights activist, alleges that border patrol agents are trained in the field to vandalize water jugs left in the desert by humanitarian organizations like Humane Borders. Budd claims this policy is framed as preventing illegal border crossing. Border Patrol responded by stating agents carry water and supplies to assist people in distress, and reiterated that "the border is closed."

Supporting reports

• Six deaths from heat exposure in sealed railway car near Laredo, Texas — Six people, aged 14 to 56 from Mexico and Honduras, were found dead inside a sealed Union Pacific railway car near Laredo, Texas. Medical examination indicates at least one died from hyperthermia (extreme heat exposure); the same cause is likely for all six. Investigators believe the group boarded the train near Del Rio and became trapped during transit. The deaths occur as immigration advocates warn of an approaching dangerous summer season for border crossers facing lethal temperatures.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration considers settling $10bn IRS lawsuit with $1.7bn compensation fund for allies including January 6 rioters — The Trump administration is reportedly negotiating to settle Trump's $10bn lawsuit against the IRS by establishing a $1.7bn compensation fund using the Treasury Department's Judgment Fund. The fund would compensate individuals Trump claims were wrongfully targeted by the Biden administration, including over 1,500 January 6 rioters. The settlement would also include a public IRS apology and waiver of audits on Trump, his family, and businesses. A federal judge has appointed attorneys to examine whether a genuine legal controversy exists, raising concerns about self-dealing and potential DOJ manipulation.
• Trump withdrew IRS lawsuit; DOJ established $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" from Judgment Fund — Attorneys for President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization filed notice voluntarily dismissing a $10 billion IRS lawsuit in federal court in Miami with prejudice. In exchange, the Justice Department announced creation of a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" drawn from the federal Judgment Fund to issue apologies and monetary relief to people claiming government "weaponization" or "lawfare." A five-member commission appointed by the Attorney General will decide beneficiaries; the President can remove any member. Quarterly reports go to the Attorney General, not the public. The fund must cease processing claims by December 2028.
• Trump settles IRS lawsuit and establishes $1.8bn anti-weaponization fund — Trump settled his lawsuit against the IRS over the leaking of his tax information by a whistleblower, abandoning his $10bn damages claim in exchange for a financial agreement that allowed him to establish a $1.776bn "anti-weaponization fund." Federal Judge Kathleen Williams approved the settlement on May 18. Critics and Democrats argue the fund functions as a "slush fund" designed to distribute taxpayer dollars to Trump's political allies, including those convicted of violence during the January 6 Capitol riot, whom Trump subsequently pardoned.
• Justice Department announces Anti-Weaponization Fund settlement with Trump entities — The Department of Justice announced establishment of "The Anti-Weaponization Fund" as part of a settlement agreement in President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service. The fund, capitalized at $1.776 billion from the judgment fund, will process claims from individuals alleging weaponization or lawfare by government. Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization agreed to drop their lawsuit with prejudice and withdraw administrative claims related to tax-return leaks, the Mar-a-Lago raid, and Russia-collusion investigations in exchange for a formal apology (but no monetary damages to them personally) and creation of the fund. The fund will cease operations by December 1, 2028.
• DOJ establishes $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" for January 6 defendants and MAGA loyalists — The Department of Justice created a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded "Anti-Weaponization Fund" designated to provide financial support to January 6th insurrectionists and MAGA loyalists. The fund represents a direct allocation of federal resources to individuals convicted or charged in connection with the Capitol attack, effectively using public money to benefit political allies and those involved in the assault on the Capitol.
• DOJ establishes $1.776 billion fund for January 6 defendants and Trump allies — The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced the creation of a $1.776 billion fund designated "for victims of lawfare and weaponization" to provide monetary relief and formal apologies to claimants. The fund will be administered by a five-member Commission appointed by the Attorney General, with one member chosen in consultation with congressional leadership. The President retains authority to remove any Commission member. The fund is expected to provide payouts to individuals convicted or charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol breach and Trump administration officials.
• DOJ announced Anti-Weaponization Fund eligibility may include January 6 defendants — ABC News and TIME reported before the fund announcement that the proposed $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund could include people charged in connection with January 6. Reuters notes that "weaponization" and "lawfare" are terms the President and allies have used to describe criminal cases arising from the Capitol attack. The Hill reports that several convicted January 6 defendants have pending civil suits. DOJ has not publicly released eligibility criteria or named beneficiaries.
• DOJ announces $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" as Trump settlement — Trump's Justice Department officially announced the $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" as part of a settlement with Trump in his lawsuit against the Treasury Department and IRS over the leaking of his tax returns. The fund will be overseen by a commission appointed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, whose members Trump can fire without cause, and will be made available in secret to those claiming wrongful government targeting, potentially including those Trump pardoned for January 6 involvement.
• Trump administration dismisses $10bn IRS lawsuit and establishes $1.776bn secretive compensation fund — The Justice Department announced creation of a $1.776bn "Anti-Weaponization Fund" as part of an agreement in which Trump and his sons dropped a $10bn lawsuit against the IRS. The fund, overseen by five commissioners (four appointed by the attorney general and removable by Trump), will compensate Trump allies with minimal transparency—quarterly reports go only to the attorney general and are confidential. Trump and his sons receive formal apologies but no monetary compensation. Democrats and watchdog groups condemned the arrangement as a slush fund funneling taxpayer dollars to political allies.
• Department of Justice announces $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" to compensate Trump and associates — The Department of Justice, under Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced the creation of a $1.776 billion fund purportedly to compensate victims of alleged "weaponization" of the Justice Department under former President Biden. The fund was established following Trump's withdrawal of a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS after a contractor leaked his tax information. Judge Kathleen Williams dismissed the suit, noting no legal settlement existed. The fund is controlled by five administrators, four chosen by Blanche and one in consultation with Congress, all removable by Trump without cause. Distributions are confidential and overseen only by the DOJ. Remaining funds after December 2028 revert to Trump's chosen federal account.
• Creation of $1.776 billion compensation fund for Trump allies with minimal oversight — The Department of Justice announced creation of a $1.776 billion compensation fund on May 19–20, 2026, to settle Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and other government claims. The fund is administered by five officials subject to at-will removal by the president, operates with minimal transparency requirements, and is not obligated to publicly disclose recipients or justifications for awards. Senate Democrats criticized the arrangement as an "outrageous, unprecedented slush fund." Acting attorney general Blanche testified that no limitations exist on who may seek compensation, including those convicted of assaulting police on January 6, though he stated Trump and his sons would not receive direct compensation.
• DOJ announces creation of Anti-Weaponization Fund — The Department of Justice announced the establishment of a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" aimed at compensating individuals it describes as victims of lawfare under former President Joe Biden. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the fund is a lawful process for victims to seek redress. However, the fund is not a legal settlement related to Trump's dropped lawsuit against the IRS, and it grants Trump significant control over the distribution of taxpayer money without oversight.
• Justice Department announced $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund from Trump IRS lawsuit settlement — The Justice Department announced a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" created as part of a settlement of President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. Trump, his two adult sons, and the Trump Organization dropped the suit and received a formal apology but no direct monetary payment. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal defense attorney, established the fund and will handpick the five-member commission deciding eligibility and payouts. The process is largely shielded from court review, and eligibility criteria remain undefined, with Blanche stating "anybody can apply."