Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• El Salvador and Trump officials shared footage of shackled migrants — El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, Trump, and Secretary Rubio shared footage of migrants deported to El Salvador being pulled off planes with hands and feet shackled and heads shaved. Bukele stated the US would pay $6 million to imprison 300 men for one year.

Supporting reports

• White House issued fact sheet on deportations of gang members to El Salvador — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump Delivers Justice to Terrorists, Security for Americans" announcing that the Trump Administration deported gang members identified as members of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 to El Salvador over the weekend. The document states that 238 Tren de Aragua members and 21 MS-13 gang members were deported, with El Salvador agreeing to hold them in its prisons. The fact sheet includes statements from administration officials, members of Congress, and other figures supporting the deportations and criticizing judicial attempts to block them.

Supporting reports

• Trump claims Biden's pardons are invalid — Trump declared that pardons issued by President Biden to members of the January 6 Committee are invalid, claiming they were signed by autopen and thus void. This assertion challenges the legitimacy of presidential pardon powers and could lead to legal and political conflicts over the scope of executive authority.
• Trump declared Biden pardons void — On Truth Social, Trump declared that the pardons issued by President Joe Biden in mid-January are "void, vacant and of no further force or effect," claiming they were signed with autopen. The pardons included members of Congress on the Jan. 6 Select Committee, Gen. Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and Biden's family members.
• Trump claims Biden's pardons are void — Donald Trump claimed that pardons signed by President Joe Biden were "void, vacant and of no further force and effect" because they were signed with an autopen. Trump made this claim on his social media platform and reiterated it to reporters on Air Force One. The claim follows a report by the Heritage Foundation criticizing Biden's use of the autopen. However, historical precedent and legal interpretations suggest that the method of signing does not invalidate presidential pardons. Biden had issued pre-emptive pardons to family members and members of the House committee investigating the January 6 attack.
• Trump declares Biden's pardons void — President Donald Trump declared the presidential pardons issued by his predecessor, President Joe Biden, "VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT." This statement implies a belief that he can unilaterally alter the legal status of pardons, which is not supported by the Constitution.
• Trump Declares Biden's Pardons Void — President Donald Trump declared the presidential pardons issued by his predecessor, Joe Biden, as “VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT.” This statement suggests an intention to investigate members of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack, challenging the legal standing of presidential pardons.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration deported alleged gang members to El Salvador — On March 15, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador without due process. Approximately 200 individuals were flown from Texas to San Salvador, despite a federal judge's order to halt the flights. The deportees were sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Reports indicate that many of those deported may not be gang members, with tattoos being used as the primary evidence of gang affiliation. The legality of the deportation under the Alien Enemies Act is disputed.
• Deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García to El Salvador without due process and defiance of Supreme Court order — Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran man with protected status against deportation to El Salvador, was removed to El Salvador by mistake without a hearing. The Trump administration admitted the error but is defying a US Supreme Court order to facilitate his return to his home and family in Maryland. He was flown to a brutal mega-prison in El Salvador, then transferred to another facility. The administration accused him of being a violent gangster and abandoned him, infuriating a federal judge and prompting warnings of a constitutional crisis. In June, the US flew him back but kept him in custody and charged him with migrant smuggling conspiracy. His lawyer stated the administration was "playing games with the court all along."
• U.S. District Judge blocks deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members — U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued an order temporarily blocking the Trump administration's deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members. The ruling was based on the lack of hearings for the individuals to present evidence against their alleged gang affiliation. The administration had invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify the deportations without due process.
• 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.

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.
• 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.
• Kilmar Ábrego García removed to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center without due process; returned and charged with human trafficking — Kilmar Ábrego García, 29, was removed from the United States on March 15, 2025, and transported to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a facility known for severe human rights abuses. He was returned to the United States on June 6, 2025, and now faces human trafficking charges. His attorneys maintain that García is innocent and characterize the charges as an "abuse of power." García's case is one of over 200 people removed to CECOT without due process.
• Trump administration admits then reverses course on unlawful deportation of Ábrego García — Shortly after deporting Kilmar Ábrego García to El Salvador in March 2025, the Trump administration admitted in a court filing that the deportation resulted from an "administrative error." Subsequently, administration officials reversed course and insisted that Ábrego García was not wrongly deported, despite a 2019 court order explicitly prohibiting his deportation to El Salvador and his prior grant of "withholding of removal" status.
• Government rendered legal U.S. resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador despite court order — On March 15, the government rendered Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal U.S. resident, to prison in El Salvador despite a court order prohibiting his deportation to that country, where his life was in danger. The government later admitted the arrest and rendition occurred because of "administrative error" but now claims without evidence that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang and that his return would threaten public safety. Abrego Garcia denies gang membership and has never been charged with a crime.
• ICE arrests and renders Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador prison — On March 12, 2025, ICE agents pulled over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's car, told his wife to retrieve their disabled son, and incarcerated him. On March 15, the government rendered Abrego Garcia to CECOT prison in El Salvador, a facility alleged to be the site of human rights abuses, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Abrego Garcia had been living lawfully in Maryland with his wife and three children, working as a sheet metal apprentice with a union, and had never been charged with any crime. He had checked in annually with ICE as directed. The U.S. government pays El Salvador $6 million annually to incarcerate individuals it sends there.
• Trump administration rendered U.S. citizen to El Salvador prison without due process — On March 15, 2025, the Trump administration rendered Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia to CECOT, a notorious terrorist prison in El Salvador, initially claiming it was an "administrative error." When Abrego Garcia's family filed a lawsuit for his return, lawyers at the Departments of State, Justice, and Homeland Security quietly worked to secure his safety and return. However, White House officials treated the case as an opportunity to challenge judicial restraint on presidential power. The administration publicly insisted, without evidence, that Abrego Garcia was a gang member, drug dealer, terrorist, and human trafficker, and despite court orders up to the Supreme Court mandating his return, White House officials have publicly stated he will never return to the United States.
• Trump administration rendition of men to CECOT prison in El Salvador without due process — Beginning March 15, 2025, the Trump administration transported more than 250 men from the United States to CECOT, a notorious terrorist prison in El Salvador, claiming they were dangerous gang members without providing names or evidence. Subsequent investigations by Bloomberg and other outlets found that approximately 90% of the men had no U.S. criminal record. The administration provided false information about the men's criminal status to justify the renditions, violating due process rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
• Trump administration deported Salvadoran national despite valid legal protection from removal — Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen with a valid 2019 immigration court order granting "withholding of removal" to El Salvador (based on credible evidence of gang persecution), was arrested by ICE on March 12, 2025, and deported to El Salvador on March 15, 2025, despite the Trump administration's own legal filing acknowledging the deportation occurred "because of an administrative error" while ICE was aware of his protection. The administration later defended the deportation and made false public claims about Garcia's criminal history.
• Deportation of Venezuelan Migrants to El Salvador Raises Concerns — Reports emerged detailing the deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, where families are concerned for their safety. Despite no criminal records, these individuals were deported under claims of gang affiliation. Family members have launched a WhatsApp helpline to seek information about their loved ones.

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.

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• 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.

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.

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.

Supporting reports

• Judge blocks Trump from using Alien Enemies Act for deportations — A federal judge, James Boasberg, issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport five Venezuelan nationals. The administration had invoked the act, claiming the Venezuelans were part of the Tren de Aragua gang, designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The judge's decision came in response to a lawsuit by the ACLU and Democracy Forward, arguing the act was unlawfully invoked during peacetime. The restraining order prevents deportations for 14 days, maintaining the status quo until a hearing is set.
• U.S. District Judge blocks deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members — U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued an order temporarily blocking the Trump administration's deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members. The ruling was based on the lack of hearings for the individuals to present evidence against their alleged gang affiliation. The administration had invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify the deportations without due process.
• Judge Boasberg issued temporary restraining order blocking Alien Enemies Act deportations — US District Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants and ordered planes carrying migrants out of the country to immediately turn around. The administration defied the order, with three planes landing in El Salvador and more than 135 migrants deported.
• Judge halts deportation under Alien Enemies Act — A federal judge, James Boasberg, issued an immediate halt to the deportation of five Venezuelan nationals, blocking the Trump administration's attempt to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The administration had invoked this wartime law, claiming the Venezuelans were part of a gang conducting hostile actions against the U.S. The judge's order required any planes already in the air to be turned around. This decision came in response to a lawsuit by civil liberties organizations arguing the act's misuse during peacetime.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge blocks deportation of Mahmoud Khalil — A federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia graduate and green card holder, who was detained by immigration officers. Khalil's detention was part of a broader campaign against pro-Palestinian activists on university campuses. The judge is considering an appeal to move Khalil from a detention center in Louisiana back to New York. This legal intervention highlights the contentious nature of the administration's immigration enforcement actions.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi issues statement opposing federal judge's deportation block — Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a statement on March 15, 2025, characterizing a federal judge's order blocking deportations as prioritizing terrorist organizations over public safety. Bondi alleged the order disregards presidential authority and stated the Department of Justice would continue efforts with the White House and Department of Homeland Security to enforce deportations, framing the effort as stopping an "invasion."

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• White House issues fact sheet on Houthi attacks and Red Sea shipping disruption — The White House published a fact sheet characterizing Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as terrorism threatening U.S. economic and national security. The document states that Houthi attacks since 2023 have reduced annual Red Sea shipping from 25,000 to approximately 10,000 vessels, increased shipping costs by roughly $1 million per voyage, and caused rerouting of U.S. and allied vessels. The fact sheet claims these disruptions increased global consumer goods inflation by 0.6–0.7 percent in 2024 and affected EU trade. It lists 14 specific attack incidents from October 2023 through December 2024 against U.S. Navy destroyers and commercial vessels.
• White House issues promotional release on Sunday show appearances by Trump administration officials — The White House published a promotional release on March 16, 2025, compiling statements made by President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, National Security Advisor Waltz, Treasury Secretary Bessent, Special Envoy Witkoff, and Press Secretary Leavitt during Sunday television appearances. The release frames these statements as demonstrating "American strength" and covers topics including border security, tariffs, military strikes against Houthi forces in the Red Sea, Ukraine peace negotiations, and immigration enforcement. No new executive actions or policy instruments are announced in the release itself.
• White House issues press release citing poll showing Trump approval rating and public sentiment — The White House published a press release on its official website titled "ICYMI: Trump ties for highest approval he's ever had — as more Americans say US is on right track than any time in 20 years: poll." The release cites an NBC poll and quotes reporting from the New York Post, stating that President Trump's approval rating is tied for his highest ever and that more Americans report the country is headed in the right direction than at any point in over two decades. The release attributes these findings to a survey conducted three months into Trump's second term.
• White House issues fact sheet claiming economic relief from egg and gas price declines — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump Is Delivering Needed Economic Relief" on March 17, 2025, claiming that the Trump Administration's policies on regulation and energy have produced economic benefits. The document states that wholesale egg prices fell from $6.55/dozen on January 21, 2025, to $3.45/dozen on the publication date (a 47.3% decrease), and that nationwide average gas prices have declined for four consecutive weeks, with more than two-thirds of U.S. gas stations offering gas at $2.99/gallon or less. The fact sheet attributes these price movements to the administration's deregulation and energy agenda.
• White House issued promotional release on steel tariffs — The White House published a release titled "ICYMI: 'Trump's tariffs are saving the American steel industry'" on March 18, 2025. The release quotes Steel Manufacturers Association President Philip K. Bell from a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette op-ed, stating that President Trump's tariffs on steel imports will "reinvigorate" the American steel industry by closing loopholes and exemptions. The release frames tariffs as protecting domestic steel production against foreign overcapacity and imports from exempt countries.
• White House issued release on education policy framing — The White House published a release titled "On Education, President Trump Knows We Can Do Better" asserting that the Department of Education has spent $3 trillion since 1979 with no measurable improvement in student achievement. The release cites declining math and reading scores, flat standardized test performance, and U.S. ranking 28th among OECD countries in math. It states the Trump Administration's plan will return education to individual states to expand educational freedom and reduce federal regulation and paperwork.
• White House issues fact sheet on manufacturing investment announcements — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump Positions U.S. as Global Superpower in Manufacturing" on March 20, 2025. The document aggregates corporate investment announcements, including Nvidia's stated plan to invest hundreds of billions in U.S. manufacturing, Apple's $500 billion investment, TSMC's $100 billion chip investment, and commitments from automakers and other manufacturers to expand or relocate production to the United States. The fact sheet attributes these announcements to Trump's "America First" trade policies and tariffs.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting executive order on mineral production — The White House published a fact sheet on March 20, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump to accelerate domestic mineral production. The order directs agencies to compile and expedite mineral projects, prioritize mineral activities on federal lands, consider projects for FAST-41 streamlined permitting, use the Defense Production Act to expand capacity, and establish financing mechanisms including a critical minerals fund. The fact sheet frames the action as reducing reliance on foreign minerals and enhancing national security.
• White House issues promotional release summarizing week nine executive actions and policy announcements — The White House published a fact sheet titled "Week Nine Wins" cataloging claimed achievements across economic policy, border enforcement, manufacturing investment, military action, energy production, and federal workforce reorganization. The document lists executive orders signed on education closure, critical minerals production, emergency response, federal procurement, workforce fitness standards, and DEI removal from the Foreign Service, alongside agency announcements on drug seizures, gang enforcement, infrastructure investment, and operational changes. No new instruments are formally published here; the release restates or references actions taken separately.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting corporate investment announcements — The White House published a fact sheet titled "Trump Effect: Johnson & Johnson's $55 Billion Investment in American Manufacturing" on March 21, 2025. The document lists Johnson & Johnson's announced $55 billion U.S. investment over four years alongside announcements from Nvidia, Apple, TSMC, OpenAI/Oracle/SoftBank, Eli Lilly, DAMAC, CMA CGM, Clarios, Merck, GE Aerospace, Stellantis, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Prepac, and Cra-Z-Art. The fact sheet attributes these announcements to what it calls the "Trump Effect" and claims they represent victories in "President Donald J. Trump's unrelenting pursuit of American manufacturing dominance."

Supporting reports

• Trump administration invokes Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan migrants — The Trump administration issued a proclamation on March 15 invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law permitting deportation of foreign nationals during wars or "invasions," to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of membership in Tren de Aragua gang. The administration claimed gang activities constitute an invasion justifying use of the 225-year-old war powers statute. Hundreds of Venezuelan men, including individuals with no apparent gang affiliations, were deported to El Salvador without immigration hearings, with at least one 23-year-old gay makeup artist shipped to a notorious prison based on misinterpreted tattoos.
• Trump administration deported alleged gang members to El Salvador — On March 15, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador without due process. Approximately 200 individuals were flown from Texas to San Salvador, despite a federal judge's order to halt the flights. The deportees were sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Reports indicate that many of those deported may not be gang members, with tattoos being used as the primary evidence of gang affiliation. The legality of the deportation under the Alien Enemies Act is disputed.
• Deportation of 230+ Venezuelan men to El Salvador without hearing using Alien Enemies Act — The US deported more than 230 Venezuelan men to a mega-prison in El Salvador in mid-March without a hearing, despite a federal judge attempting to halt the flights. Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA), a law meant only for wartime, to avoid due process requirements. This prompted court challenges led by the ACLU. Chief Justice John Roberts rebuked the president when he threatened the judge. The Supreme Court majority did not stop Trump from using the AEA but unanimously reaffirmed the right to due process and habeas corpus challenges. Most of the men are reportedly not violent criminals or gang members, according to a New York Times investigation. Many were accused of gang membership based on tattoos.
• Trump administration files emergency appeals on birthright citizenship — The Trump administration filed a series of emergency appeals asking the Supreme Court to allow the president to proceed with plans to end birthright citizenship. This legal maneuver seeks to challenge the constitutional guarantee of citizenship by birth.
• Trump invoked Alien Enemies Act to arrest and deport noncitizens without due process — Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, claiming to target Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua but with implications for countless noncitizens lacking ties to the gang. US District Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting deportations under the act and ordering planes to turn around. The Trump administration defied the order; three planes landed in El Salvador, and more than 135 of 300 migrants were deported using the act.
• Trump administration invokes Alien Enemies Act for deportations — The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify deportations without due process, circumventing immigration courts. This act has historically been used only during wartime. Critics argue this move undermines legal protections for migrants and asylum seekers, raising concerns about executive overreach and the erosion of due process rights.
• Trump administration plans to invoke Alien Enemies Act — The Trump administration is planning to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used wartime authority, to arrest and deport certain noncitizens without due process. This act was historically used to justify Japanese internment during World War II.

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

• Bove instructed DOJ to ignore federal court order blocking deportations — During a March 14, 2025 meeting, Emil Bove told DOJ officials that planes carrying individuals subject to deportation under the Alien Enemies Act "needed to take off no matter what" and stated the DOJ would need to consider telling courts "fuck you" and ignore any court order blocking the removals. On March 15, after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order halting the deportations, Bove directed that the flights proceed anyway, instructing DHS that the court order did not apply because the planes had left U.S. airspace before the written order was issued—a legal position contradicted by binding judicial authority.

Supporting reports

• Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act against Tren de Aragua — President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act to address the threat posed by Tren de Aragua (TdA), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. The proclamation directs the apprehension, detention, and removal of TdA members within the United States who are not naturalized or lawful permanent residents. The Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security are tasked with executing these actions, utilizing federal and state resources to ensure public safety.
• Trump ended birthright citizenship — President Donald Trump ended birthright citizenship, a significant change to immigration policy that affects the status of children born in the United States to non-citizen parents. This move challenges the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.
• Trump invokes Alien Enemies Act against Tren de Aragua members — President Trump issued a proclamation on March 15, 2025, invoking the Alien Enemies Act (50 U.S.C. 21 et seq.) to declare members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization on February 20, 2025, as alien enemies subject to apprehension and removal. The proclamation directs the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to apprehend, detain, and remove all Venezuelan citizens aged 14 or older who are TdA members and present in the United States without lawful permanent resident or naturalized status. The order authorizes summary apprehension, detention pending removal, property seizure, and mandates all federal agencies and state/local officials to collaborate in enforcement.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration arrests and detains foreign students and academics for pro-Palestinian activism — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and detained multiple foreign-born students and academics on visas or green cards, citing their roles in pro-Palestinian campus protests. Cases include Mahmoud Khalil (Palestinian green-card holder detained in Louisiana for three months), Rümeysa Öztürk (Turkish Fulbright scholar detained in Louisiana despite court order), Mohsen Mahdawi (Palestinian green-card holder arrested during citizenship interview), Yunseo Chung (South Korean student arrested and targeted for deportation), Alireza Doroudi (Iranian student denied bond), and Badar Khan Suri (Indian postdoctoral fellow detained in Louisiana and Texas). The government invoked obscure immigration law to justify detaining and deporting people for constitutionally protected free speech deemed adverse to US foreign policy. Some were released on bail or court order; others faced ongoing deportation proceedings.

Supporting reports

• EPA revokes methane emissions charge rule via Congressional Review Act — The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule revoking the "Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems" rule, effective immediately. Congress passed and President Trump signed a joint resolution of disapproval (H.J. Res. 35, Public Law 119-2) on March 14, 2025, nullifying the November 2024 EPA rule that implemented methane emissions reporting and compliance procedures for petroleum and natural gas facilities. The EPA removed the rule from the Code of Federal Regulations, eliminating reporting requirements and associated compliance procedures for affected industry segments.