Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration officials make false claims about Alex Pretti's actions on day of killing — Trump administration officials initially claimed that Alex Pretti was "brandishing" a gun and intended to "massacre" federal officers on January 24, 2026, the day he was fatally shot. Video evidence contradicted these claims, showing Pretti holding a phone, not a gun. The false statements were made in the immediate aftermath of the shooting and were later contradicted by multiple video recordings of the incident.
• Department of Homeland Security issued false statement about shooting — The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement falsely asserting that Alex Pretti "approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun" and "violently resisted" as officers attempted to disarm him. The statement claimed an agent fired "defensive shots" and characterized Pretti as someone "who wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement." Video evidence verified by the New York Times contradicted this account, showing Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, when federal agents took him to the ground and shot him.
• Kristi Noem doubled down on false narrative about Pretti — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reiterated the false characterization of Alex Pretti, stating: "This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement." This statement contradicted video evidence showing Pretti holding a phone and attempting to help another person.
• DHS issues misleading statement about Pretti's shooting — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement claiming that Alex Pretti approached Border Patrol agents with a handgun and violently resisted arrest, which contradicted video evidence showing he was holding a phone. The statement suggested that the agents acted in self-defense, despite the lack of credible evidence supporting this narrative.
• DHS issued a statement falsely characterizing Pretti as having "approached" officers with a loaded handgun and "violently resisted" disarmament. — The Department of Homeland Security released an official statement claiming Pretti "approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun" and "violently resisted" when officers attempted to disarm him. The statement suggested he carried two additional magazines and had no ID, implying premeditation for a "massacre." A community fact-check note on the DHS post corrected the record: video shows Pretti holding a phone and approaching a woman who had been shoved by an officer when an officer threw him to the ground. At no point does video show him approaching officers while holding a gun.

Supporting reports

• Stephen Miller accused Democrats of siding with terrorists — White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller responded to the Democratic Party's social media post calling for ICE to leave Minneapolis by characterizing the Democrats as siding with "terrorists" and describing Pretti as a "would-be assassin" attempting to murder federal law enforcement. Miller continued this framing in responses to Senator Chris Murphy and Senator Amy Klobuchar, labeling those opposing ICE operations as supporters of "domestic terrorists" and "insurrection."
• Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller falsely label shooting victim a "domestic terrorist" — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller publicly labeled Alex Pretti, the ICU nurse killed by Border Patrol agents, a "domestic terrorist" and spread false claims that he was holding a gun and attempting to assassinate law enforcement. The false characterization occurred hours after the fatal shooting.
• Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem characterized Pretti as having committed "domestic terrorism" and repeated false claims about his actions. — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem held a press conference repeating talking points used after the killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer. She stated Pretti "committed domestic terrorism" and claimed "this looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement." She also asserted Pretti "came to that scene and impeded a law enforcement operation which is against federal law" and "became aggressive and resisted them throughout that process." Later, when asked if deadly force was protocol after disarmament, she stated "They clearly feared for their lives" without addressing the disarmament or the six shots fired at a motionless body.
• Stephen Miller characterized Pretti as a "would-be assassin" and accused Democrats of siding with "terrorists." — Stephen Miller, a Trump administration official, posted "A would-be assassin tried to murder federal law enforcement and the official Democrat account sides with the terrorists." Miller also responded to Senator Amy Klobuchar's criticism of ICE by stating "A domestic terrorist tried to assassinate federal law enforcement and this is your response? You and the state's entire Democrat leadership team have been flaming the flames of insurrection for the singular purpose of stopping the deportation of illegals who invaded the country."
• Stephen Miller called Alex Pretti a "domestic terrorist" — Stephen Miller, the political architect of the Trump administration's mass deportation policy, called Alex Pretti a "domestic terrorist" in public statements. Pretti was a nurse without a criminal record who was fatally shot by federal agents. Miller also called Pretti an "assassin." These characterizations contradicted video evidence and were later walked back by Deputy AG Todd Blanche.
• Trump administration officials falsely characterized Alex Pretti as a domestic terrorist — Trump administration officials, including Stephen Miller and senior Department of Homeland Security officials, initially smeared Alex Pretti as a domestic terrorist who intended to massacre law enforcement. JD Vance retweeted messages containing these claims. The narrative was later contradicted by video evidence showing Pretti was lawfully armed and attempting to help an assaulted woman.
• Stephen Miller claimed Alex Pretti was a terrorist — Stephen Miller, a Trump administration official, immediately claimed that Alex Pretti, the protester killed by ICE, had been a terrorist intent on massacring ICE agents, despite video evidence showing Pretti was unarmed at the moment of shooting and had been disarmed by officers before being shot.
• Internal Trump administration conflict over responsibility for labeling murder victim as domestic terrorist — Axios reported that internal Trump administration figures are attempting to assign blame for labeling Alex Pretti as a domestic terrorist rather than treating the killing as a potential homicide. The report cites four administration sources stating that Stephen Miller dictated language to Kristi Noem characterizing Pretti as wanting to "massacre" federal agents. The conflict reflects palace intrigue over accountability for the controversial operation.

Supporting reports

• Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller falsely label shooting victim a "domestic terrorist" — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller publicly labeled Alex Pretti, the ICU nurse killed by Border Patrol agents, a "domestic terrorist" and spread false claims that he was holding a gun and attempting to assassinate law enforcement. The false characterization occurred hours after the fatal shooting.
• Kristi Noem labels Alex Pretti "domestic terrorist" without evidence — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem labeled Alex Pretti, the U.S. citizen fatally shot by CBP agents, a "domestic terrorist" without providing evidence to support the characterization. Noem had previously used similar language to describe Renee Good, an unarmed woman shot three times in her car while attempting to steer away from an agent, characterizing the shooting as an appropriate response to an "act of domestic terrorism."
• Kristi Noem defended calling Pretti a "domestic terrorist" — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem appeared on Fox News to explain her initial characterization of Alex Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" in her press conference. Noem stated the situation was "very chaotic" and that she and CBP agents "were using the best information we had at the time, seeking to be transparent." She attributed the characterization to information relayed from CBP agents on the ground.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Pam Bondi demands Minnesota surrender voter rolls, social program records, and policy changes — On January 24, 2026, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Tim Walz demanding that Minnesota turn over voter rolls for federal inspection, provide records on social programs including Medicaid and food assistance for federal investigation, and end policies preventing local coordination with immigration enforcement. State officials characterized the letter as a "ransom note" and an attempt at coercion and extortion designed to force compliance with federal immigration enforcement priorities.
• Attorney General Bondi tied voter roll access to federal violence in Minnesota — Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz suggesting he could "bring back law and order to Minnesota" if he handed over the state's voter rolls to the Department of Justice. Bondi explicitly tied the administration's violence in the state to its determination to obtain voters' personal data before the 2026 election. Minnesota has voted for the Democratic candidate in the past three presidential elections, but Trump insists he won the state each time.
• Pam Bondi demands Minnesota voter rolls, public assistance data, and sanctuary policy repeal — US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz demanding access to the state's voter rolls, public assistance recipient data, and repeal of sanctuary city policies. The demand was framed as part of immigration enforcement but included no evidence of non-citizen voter fraud in Minnesota. State election officials and legal experts characterized the request as coercive and pretextual, noting it violates state and federal law protecting voter privacy and has no connection to immigration enforcement.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota officials conditioning ICE's withdrawal on the state turning over its voter database to the Trump administration. — Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota officials stating that ICE would leave the state if Minnesota allowed the Civil Rights Division of DOJ to "access voter rolls to confirm that MN's voter registration practices comply with federal law." The letter framed this as a "common sense request" to "better guarantee free and fair elections and boost confidence in the rule of law." Senator Chris Murphy characterized this as evidence that "the Trump admin is creating this mayhem, particularly in cities in swing states, in order to take control of elections" and stated "They are trying to trade the presence of ICE and the murder and mayhem they are causing for control of Minnesota's elections."
• Attorney General Pam Bondi demands Minnesota enforce immigration law and produce welfare and voter roll data — US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Walz on January 26, 2026, accusing Minnesota officials of refusing to enforce the rule of law and demanding they support ICE operations. Bondi pressed Walz to produce information about the state's welfare programs and voter rolls, citing unsubstantiated federal claims that Democratic lawmakers allowed these systems to be manipulated or subject to welfare fraud. Bondi framed compliance as necessary to "bring back law and order to Minnesota."
• Attorney General Bondi requested voter rolls from Minnesota — Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Governor Tim Walz on Saturday, shortly after Pretti's killing, suggesting that Walz could "restore the rule of law" in Minnesota by handing over the state's voter rolls. The request was framed as unrelated to voter files but appeared to be connected to Trump's claims that the election was rigged.
• Attorney General Bondi letter linking ICE surge to demands for voter data, welfare records, and sanctuary policy repeal — Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a letter explicitly conditioning the end of Operation Metro Surge on three unrelated demands: access to voter registration records, welfare program data, and repeal of sanctuary policies. Minnesota's lawyers characterize this as an extortion attempt and argue it demonstrates the Trump administration is using armed federal presence to coerce policy changes rather than conduct legitimate immigration enforcement, violating the 10th Amendment and constitutional structure.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration conducts 36th military boat strike in eastern Pacific — The Trump administration announced its 36th military boat strike on Friday, 24 January 2026, targeting a small vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This strike is part of an ongoing campaign the administration claims targets go-fast boats connected to cartels and gangs. The cumulative death toll from all boat strikes under this campaign stands at approximately 117 people. The administration maintains the strikes are legal under a secret Justice Department opinion asserting the US is in an armed conflict with cartels and that laws of war apply.

Supporting reports

• Fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis — Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot and killed on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. According to witness accounts, Pretti was shot after rushing to protect a woman who was being pepper-sprayed by Border Patrol agents. Video evidence shows a federal officer retrieving Pretti's firearm while another officer drew his weapon before the fatal shooting occurred.
• Federal agents shoot and kill Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement operation — Federal immigration agents under the Trump administration shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis on January 24 during an enforcement operation. The killing was the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis within weeks and intensified public anger over the administration's immigration enforcement tactics and the use of lethal force.
• Federal agents shoot and kill VA nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials shot and killed Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, in Minneapolis. Trump administration officials, including Stephen Miller and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, subsequently labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist." VA Secretary Collins blamed the death on state and local officials' "refusal to cooperate with the federal government." The killing followed another shooting of a U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, by an ICE official in Minneapolis earlier that month.
• Border Patrol agents fatally shoot ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Border Patrol agents fired at least 10 shots at 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on January 24, killing him. Pretti had been recording the agents with his phone after they pepper-sprayed and tackled him to the ground. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller falsely labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" and claimed he was holding a gun and attempting to assassinate law enforcement. A Trump-appointed federal judge issued a late-night order directing the administration not to destroy or alter evidence in the case.
• Federal agents killed Alex Pretti, 37-year-old ICU nurse, during immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA, on a Minneapolis street during an immigration enforcement operation. Video evidence from ABC News shows Pretti recording federal agents with his phone before being pepper-sprayed, pushed into the street, and shot approximately 10 times in under five seconds. A doctor's affidavit cited by ABC describes multiple gunshot wounds including at least three in Pretti's back. An officer was heard saying "I got the gun" after the shooting. The incident occurred the morning after Minnesota's Friday economic blackout protest. Pretti's family disputes official accounts, describing them as "sickening lies."
• Federal agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis — Federal agents, identified as ICE/Border Patrol officers, tackled, pepper-sprayed, and shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, on a Minneapolis street. Video evidence shows Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, and attempting to help another person who had been pushed down by agents. After agents removed a gun from Pretti's waistband, they shot him multiple times, killing him. Federal agents then blocked state investigators, including the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, from accessing the scene despite a search warrant.
• Fatal shooting of Minneapolis nurse by federal ICE agents during immigration operation — Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse and U.S. citizen, was killed by federal agents on Saturday, January 25, 2026, while apparently filming an immigration enforcement operation. Videos verified by The Guardian contradict portions of the Department of Homeland Security's account of the incident. This marks the third shooting involving federal agents in January 2026 and prompted state and city lawyers to urge the court to halt Operation Metro Surge before additional deaths occur.
• Federal agent fatally shoots civilian Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — A 37-year-old nurse, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by a federal Customs and Border Protection agent during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Democratic lawmakers, including Ilhan Omar, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris, condemned the shooting as an execution and called for accountability. Republicans, led by President Trump and Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller, blamed Democratic officials for creating a lawless environment that prevented local police cooperation with federal agents.
• Federal agents fatally shoot 37-year-old US citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen and Virginia nurse, at approximately 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2026, in the Eat Street area of Minneapolis. The killing occurred in front of witnesses who videotaped the incident. It is the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks, following the January 7 death of Renee Good. Federal agents subsequently deployed chemical irritants to disperse crowds and made arrests at the scene. Governor Tim Walz stated the killing contradicted calls for peace.
• Federal agents fatally shoot 37-year-old US citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement operation — Federal law enforcement officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, a Minneapolis nurse and US citizen with no criminal record and a valid firearm permit, during a protest against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement. Video evidence shows Pretti holding a phone and attempting to shield a woman being pepper-sprayed; federal officials falsely claimed he was armed with a 9mm handgun and posed a threat to officers. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino contradicted video evidence in their public statements. A Minnesota judge ordered preservation of evidence after state officials alleged DHS was blocking local investigation access.
• Federal agents fatally shoot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis; nationwide protests erupt — Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse and US citizen employed at Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was shot dead by federal agents during an encounter in Minneapolis. Video evidence shows Pretti being wrestled to the ground and sprayed with chemical agents before being shot multiple times. The DHS and Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti "approached" officers with a 9mm handgun, contradicting available video footage. Large protests spread across US cities including Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Providence, Los Angeles, and Washington DC on the following day, with demonstrators calling for ICE abolishment and justice.
• Federal agents kill Minneapolis VA nurse Alex Pretti during ICE enforcement action — Alex Pretti, 37, a registered nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was shot and killed by federal agents on Saturday during an immigration enforcement operation. Video evidence shows Pretti holding a phone, with an empty raised hand, appearing to defend a legal observer being pushed down by officers. Multiple agents surrounded him on the ground before firing multiple shots at close range. His family disputes the administration's account that he threatened officers with a gun. Police confirmed his only prior law enforcement contact was for traffic tickets and that he was a lawful gun owner.
• Federal agents shoot and kill Alex Pretti, a nurse, during ICE enforcement operation in Minneapolis — Alex Pretti, a healthcare worker, was fatally shot by federal agents during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis on or around January 25, 2026. The shooting occurred amid weeks of intensified federal immigration enforcement in the area. Following the killing, federal agents deployed teargas and projectiles against demonstrators and bystanders who gathered at the scene, injuring multiple people including children and community members seeking to help the injured.
• Federal immigration agents fatally shoot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — On January 25, 2026, federal immigration officers shot and killed 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during an enforcement operation. Video evidence shows agents removed Pretti's legally carried handgun before shooting him. The incident sparked immediate calls for investigation from former presidents Obama and Clinton, Democratic lawmakers, and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy. A federal judge issued an order blocking destruction of evidence. The Trump administration disputed the narrative, with officials claiming Pretti interfered with a lawful arrest, while video evidence contradicted claims he brandished a weapon.
• ICE agents shoot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis; White House falsely brands him "domestic terrorist" — Federal border patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026. White House officials immediately claimed Pretti was a "would-be assassin" and "domestic terrorist" brandishing a gun. Multiple witness videos emerged showing Pretti held only a phone when agents pushed him to the ground, and that his gun was removed seconds before he was shot in the back while restrained. Facing public and bipartisan backlash, Trump distanced himself from the narrative and shuffled immigration leadership.
• Federal agents shot and killed VA nurse Alex Pretti during immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis — Federal Border Patrol and ICE agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a nurse without a criminal record, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026. Multiple videos contradicted official DHS claims that Pretti intended to conduct a "massacre" or cause "maximum damage." Internal DHS sources told Fox reporter Bill Melugin that the shooting was likely a "bad shoot" involving an accidental discharge after agents heard "gun," and that DHS messaging about the incident was catastrophic for morale and credibility. The incident triggered congressional scrutiny, a government funding crisis, and a political backlash against the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign.
• Federal agents killed Alex Pretti, an ICE nurse, during Minneapolis street encounter — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, an ICE nurse at Minneapolis VA, on a Minneapolis street during a period of civil unrest. Video evidence shows Pretti standing with phone raised, recording, when officers pepper-sprayed and pulled him into the street. A doctor's affidavit describes at least three gunshot wounds in his back, with multiple shots fired in under five seconds. His family disputes the official account. The incident occurred one day after a statewide economic blackout and clergy-led protest involving an estimated 50,000 people.
• Border Patrol shoots and kills Alex Pretti, ICU nurse, during Minnesota immigration enforcement operation — US Border Patrol officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota on January 25, 2026. Video evidence showed Pretti was unarmed at the moment of the shooting, contradicting federal claims that he posed a direct threat. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino claimed Pretti had threatened a "massacre" before being disarmed, but state investigators were blocked from the scene. The incident sparked public outcry and calls for investigation into federal enforcement tactics.
• Federal agents shoot and kill Alex Pretti during Minneapolis protest — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, a registered nurse at Minneapolis VA Health Care System, during a protest in south Minneapolis on Saturday. Video evidence shows Pretti being tackled by multiple agents after appearing to defend a shoved observer; an agent sprayed him with chemical agent before officers fired multiple shots at close range. DHS characterized the shooting as "defensive" and described protesters as "rioters." Pretti had no prior law enforcement contact except traffic tickets and was a lawful gun permit holder.
• Federal agents killed Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, in Minneapolis — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a VA hospital ICU nurse, in Minneapolis on Saturday morning. Pretti had stopped his car to observe agents chasing a family on foot, shouted, and blew a whistle. About a week prior, five agents had tackled him, breaking a rib, after he intervened in a similar incident. The killing triggered widespread public outcry and shifted the political calculus around federal funding bills in Congress.
• Federal agents killed VA ICE nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Federal immigration enforcement agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a VA hospital ICE nurse, in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026. Pretti was carrying a legally permitted firearm while participating in community-led first-responder activities. Administration officials, including Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and FBI director Kash Patel, claimed the killing was justified and that Pretti posed a threat. However, the Minnesota Department of Corrections launched a website to counter DHS claims, stating that Bovino had misrepresented the target of the operation and that the individual identified had no significant criminal history in Minnesota.
• Minneapolis Police Chief criticized federal enforcement operations — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, in Minneapolis while he was directing traffic and attempting to assist another individual. Video evidence shows agents using pepper spray on Pretti before tackling him to the ground and shooting him multiple times. Following the incident, federal agents blocked state investigators from accessing the scene, prompting Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to file a lawsuit for a temporary restraining order to prevent the destruction of evidence. A judge granted the order, barring the alteration or destruction of evidence related to the shooting.
• Minnesota National Guard distributed supplies to anti-ICE protesters — Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told CBS's Face the Nation that the city had experienced three federal shootings in less than three weeks, contrasting this with the Minneapolis Police Department's recovery of 900 guns and arrest of hundreds of violent offenders in the previous year without shooting anyone. O'Hara stated that the federal operations are unsustainable and are straining the city's police department, which has only 600 officers.
• Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement operation. — The Minnesota National Guard, wearing neon vests to distinguish themselves from federal agents, distributed doughnuts, coffee, and hot chocolate to anti-ICE protesters, signaling their alignment with community opposition to federal immigration enforcement operations.
• ICE and Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — On January 25, 2026, Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse at a VA hospital in Minneapolis. Video evidence shows Pretti was filming police with his phone when agents initiated contact. He was not holding or brandishing his firearm; agents disarmed him while he was on the ground. After disarmament, agents fired 10 shots total—4 initially (3 to the back) and 6 additional shots while Pretti lay motionless. Pretti was a U.S. citizen born in Illinois with no criminal record, a valid concealed carry permit, and had participated in protests against ICE operations. A nearby physician found agents counting bullet wounds rather than performing CPR. The incident occurred during a broader ICE surge in Minneapolis that has generated widespread controversy and calls for investigation.
• Federal officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, during ICE Minneapolis operation — Federal ICE and Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an ICU nurse, in Minneapolis over the weekend. Initial regime narratives claimed Pretti was a domestic terrorist who approached agents with a firearm and reacted violently. Video evidence contradicted this account, showing Pretti was legally carrying a permitted firearm, not brandishing it, and was attempting to render aid to a woman pepper-sprayed by federal agents. After agents removed his gun and beat him, he was shot at point-blank range with at least 10 shots while helpless on the ground.
• ICE agent fatally shoots Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — On Saturday morning in Minneapolis, federal ICE officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, during a large-scale immigration enforcement crackdown. Video evidence showed Pretti was holding a phone, not a weapon, while attempting to assist another person who had been pepper-sprayed. Officers pushed him to the ground, beat him, and shot him multiple times at close range. Pretti was licensed to carry a firearm but there is no indication he was holding or threatening officers with one. The incident represents one of several violent and fatal incidents during the ICE Minneapolis operation.
• DHS report on Alex Pretti shooting released; two CBP agents discharged firearms — On January 26, 2026, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was killed by federal officers during the "Operation Metro Surge" enforcement action in Minneapolis. The shooting prompted a response from major Minnesota corporations, who released a joint letter on January 25 calling for "deescalation" but offering no specific policy demands or explicit condemnation of the killings.
• Federal immigration agents fatally shoot Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti during enforcement operation — The Department of Homeland Security released an initial investigation report to Congress indicating that two Customs and Border Protection officers discharged their firearms at Alex Pretti during a fatal shooting in Minneapolis on January 27. The report states that during an attempted custody operation, Pretti resisted and a struggle ensued, after which a border patrol agent and a CBP officer each fired their service weapons. The report confirms video evidence of Pretti assisting a woman confronted by agents and notes that a firearm was recovered from Pretti's possession.
• ICE agents attack US citizen Maria during immigration enforcement operation in Salem, Oregon — On an unspecified date in January 2026, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at Minneapolis VA Medical Center, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Pretti was filming the agents when he was tackled, disarmed, and fatally shot. Trump administration officials falsely claimed Pretti "brandished" a gun and labeled him a "would-be assassin," but bystander video evidence shows Pretti holding only a phone and having been disarmed before shots were fired. The shooting represents the second fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis that month.
• — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pulled a US citizen named Maria from her vehicle in Salem, Oregon, after boxing in her car and smashing the window. Agents threw her to the ground and left her without medical care until discovering her US passport. Maria, a homecare worker and SEIU Local 503 member, sustained a concussion and bruised ribs. The incident prompted unions to raise nearly $20,000 for her support and sparked broader labor movement response to ICE enforcement surge.

Supporting reports

• ICE conducts mass immigration enforcement sweep across Maine, rapidly transferring detainees out of state — ICE agents conducted a federal immigration crackdown across Maine this week, apprehending more than 200 people. Federal authorities rapidly transferred detainees out of state, making it difficult for families and attorneys to locate them and file legal challenges. At least 50 immigrants were removed from Cumberland County jail on Thursday following a dispute between the sheriff and ICE over enforcement tactics. Data shows over 45% of Maine detainees are transferred to Louisiana, where some are held in tent facilities. Immigration attorneys report the pace of transfers appears designed to prevent legal intervention.

Supporting reports

• ICE agent labeled legal observer as domestic terrorist for recording — An ICE agent in Maine photographed a legal observer's car and, when questioned about why he was taking her information, responded that she was being added to a database and "considered a domestic terrorist." The agent appeared to be referencing Trump's September 25, 2025, memo NSPM-7, which describes opposition to the administration's policies—protected by the First Amendment—as "domestic terrorism."

Supporting reports

• Secretary Noem falsely labeled killed woman as domestic terrorist — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem falsely claimed that Renee Good, who was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, attempted to run over the agent and characterized her death as "an act of domestic terrorism." Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that protesters are engaging in "domestic terror techniques." These characterizations misapply the legal definition of domestic terrorism, which requires commission of one of 51 specific federal crimes involving weapons of mass destruction or air piracy.

Supporting reports

• Trump approves Nvidia chip sale to China and signs AI deregulation executive order after CEO donates to ballroom project — Trump approved Nvidia's sale of powerful chips to China (a stated U.S. tech rival) and indicated the U.S. would impose a 25% tariff on some Nvidia chips. In December 2025, Trump signed an executive order targeting state AI regulations he deemed "onerous," a priority for AI industry interests. These actions followed Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's donation of approximately $1 million to Trump's White House ballroom project after a White House dinner in mid-October 2025. The timing and sequence raise concerns about policy decisions benefiting major donors.

Supporting reports

• House rejects war powers resolution limiting Trump military action in Venezuela — The US House of Representatives rejected a Democratic-backed war powers resolution that would have prevented President Trump from sending military forces to Venezuela. The vote fell just short of passage, with Republican leaders holding the vote open over 20 minutes to secure a decisive vote from Rep. Wesley Hunt. Two Republicans—Don Bacon and Thomas Massie—voted with Democrats. The resolution followed a surprise US military raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which Congress said it was not informed about in advance.

Supporting reports

• Utah GOP files notice of appeal to revive gerrymandered congressional map — Days before revealing a court-packing plan, Republican legislators in Utah filed a notice of appeal challenging the state Supreme Court's unanimous 2024 ruling that rejected their attempt to undermine a constitutional ban on gerrymandering. The appeal seeks to revive a gerrymandered congressional map that the court had struck down as violating voter-approved redistricting protections.
• Utah GOP lawmakers introduce articles of impeachment against Judge Dianna Gibson — Utah Republican lawmakers introduced articles of impeachment against Judge Dianna Gibson for her role in protecting the voter-approved ban on gerrymandering and striking down unfair congressional districts. The impeachment effort is part of a broader pattern of legislative attacks on judges whose rulings limit GOP legislative power.
• Utah GOP lawmakers propose partisan judicial elections — House Majority Leader Casey Snider floated the idea of electing Utah Supreme Court justices in partisan races, citing a desire to instill "confidence in the impartiality" of the courts. The proposal follows similar moves in North Carolina and Ohio, where GOP-backed partisan appellate court races resulted in the election of new high court majorities that reversed constitutional bans on gerrymandering.
• Utah Republican legislators announce plan to expand state Supreme Court — Utah Republican legislators, led by House Majority Leader Casey Snider, announced an intention to pack the state Supreme Court by adding two justices to the five-member bench. Governor Spencer Cox signed on to the proposal. Snider justified the expansion by claiming the court "has moved so far afield from where we expect them to be," citing the court's rejection of the legislature's gerrymandering scheme and other rulings limiting legislative power over voter-approved amendments.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: AFL-CIO v. HHS over $10 billion social services funding freeze — On January 6, 2026, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams froze $10 billion in federal funding for social services and child care programs in New York, Illinois, California, Colorado, and Minnesota. On January 23, 2026, the AFL-CIO, SEIU, and allied labor unions filed a federal complaint in the Northern District of California challenging the freeze as unauthorized, arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act, viewpoint discrimination and First Amendment retaliation, and a Fifth Amendment equal protection violation. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief vacating the freeze and barring similar actions.

Supporting reports

• Trump issues Executive Order 14377 preempting state and local permitting for Los Angeles wildfire reconstruction, directing federal agencies to replace local approval processes with self-certification requirements. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14377 on January 23, 2026, directing the Department of Homeland Security (through FEMA) and the Small Business Administration to preempt state and local permitting requirements for wildfire reconstruction in Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas. The order mandates agencies promulgate regulations within 90 days replacing local permitting with federal self-certification by builders. It also directs expedited federal environmental and historic-preservation waivers, audits of California's prior disaster-mitigation spending, and legislative proposals enabling federal override of state/local recovery obstruction. The order frames state and local governments as having failed reconstruction obligations.
• Trump signed executive order preempting state and local permitting requirements for wildfire reconstruction in Los Angeles — President Trump signed Executive Order 14377 on January 23, 2026, directing federal agencies to preempt state and local permitting processes that impede use of federal disaster relief funds for rebuilding homes and businesses in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon wildfire areas. The order authorizes FEMA and SBA to replace state/local permitting with federal self-certification requirements, directs expedited environmental and historic preservation waivers, and mandates a federal audit of California's use of prior hazard-mitigation grant funding. The order asserts that state and local governments failed in forest management, emergency response, and reconstruction efforts.

Supporting reports

• Federal immigration agents detain two-year-old girl and father in Minneapolis, defy judicial release order — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained a two-year-old girl and her father in Minneapolis on January 22 after stopping them near their home. A federal judge issued orders around 8:10pm prohibiting transfer outside Minnesota and mandating immediate release of the child into attorney custody. Despite the orders, federal officials placed both on a flight to Texas around 8:30pm. The child was later returned to her mother in Minnesota; the father remains detained. The father has a pending asylum application and no final removal order.
• ICE arrests asylum seeker and two-year-old daughter without warrant; defies court order by flying them to Texas — ICE agents arrested Elvis Joel TE and his two-year-old daughter without a warrant on January 22, 2026, in Minneapolis as they returned home from a store. Agents broke the car window while the child was inside and refused to allow the father to hand his daughter to her mother. Within hours, Judge Menendez issued an order prohibiting removal from Minnesota. Despite this order, ICE placed both on a flight to Texas approximately 20 minutes later. The daughter was returned to Minnesota the next day and released to her mother, but the father remained detained.

Supporting reports

• Medical examiner ruled detainee death in ICE custody a homicide — The El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner ruled that the death of 55-year-old Cuban-born Geraldo Lunas Campos, detained at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, was a homicide. Lunas Campos died of asphyxiation after guards applied pressure to his neck and chest during an altercation in which he requested medication. Two detainees testified they witnessed guards choking Lunas Campos, who repeatedly stated he could not breathe. The Trump administration subsequently attempted to deport the two witnesses. At least 30 people died in ICE detention in the previous year, the highest number in twenty years, with six deaths in the first two weeks of 2026.
• Secretary Noem falsely labeled killed woman as domestic terrorist — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem falsely claimed that Renee Good, who was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, attempted to run over the agent and characterized her death as "an act of domestic terrorism." Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that protesters are engaging in "domestic terror techniques." These characterizations misapply the legal definition of domestic terrorism, which requires commission of one of 51 specific federal crimes involving weapons of mass destruction or air piracy.

Supporting reports

• House approves DHS funding bill with seven Democratic votes despite ICE violence concerns — The House voted 220-207 on Thursday to approve a Department of Homeland Security funding bill that includes $10 billion for ICE operations, despite widespread Democratic opposition triggered by an ICE agent's fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis. The bill includes modest reforms: a 5,500-bed reduction in ICE detention capacity, $20 million for body cameras, and flat funding. Seven Democrats joined Republicans to pass the measure. The bill now moves to the Senate, which must act by January 30 to prevent a partial government shutdown.

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• Juan Espinoza Martinez acquitted in murder-for-hire prosecution targeting border patrol official — Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, was found not guilty in Chicago federal court on charges of murder-for-hire targeting Gregory Bovino, a top US border patrol leader. Prosecutors alleged Espinoza Martinez offered a $10,000 bounty via Snapchat in October for Bovino's killing; defense argued the messages were neighborhood gossip without intent or capability to carry out harm. The jury acquitted after less than four hours of deliberation, marking another collapse of a high-profile DOJ prosecution tied to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement crackdown.
• Chicago jury acquitted defendant in Border Patrol commander murder-for-hire case — A jury in Chicago acquitted Juan Espinoza Martinez, charged by the Department of Justice with attempting to hire someone to kill U.S. Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino. The DOJ had claimed Martinez, allegedly a street gang member, offered $10,000 to his brother and a friend to commit the murder. This acquittal is the 15th clearance among 31 Chicagoans charged with nonimmigration crimes tied to federal action in the city, with none resulting in conviction so far.

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• Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Trump's attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Trump's bid to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, whom he attempted to remove last summer over alleged mortgage fraud discrepancies. Both conservative and liberal justices expressed skepticism of the administration's position, with Justice Kavanaugh warning of "downstream effects" and Justice Barrett questioning the lack of formal hearing procedures. A federal court previously blocked Cook's removal; the Supreme Court's decision will establish precedent for presidential power over Fed officials and the central bank's independence from political interference.

Supporting reports

• ICE detains 17-year-old Columbia Heights student without parental presence — On Tuesday, ICE agents detained a 17-year-old Columbia Heights student by removing him from his car with "armed and masked agents" present, without parents being notified or present. This was the second minor detained by ICE in the school district within the same day, part of an escalating enforcement surge in the region.
• ICE detains five-year-old Liam Ramos in Minnesota driveway — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father in their driveway in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, on Tuesday, then transported both to a detention center in Texas. School superintendent Zena Stenvik reported that an ICE agent used the child as "bait" by directing him to knock on his front door to determine if others were home. The family had an active asylum case and entered legally at a port of entry. This was one of four detentions of minors in the school district within two weeks.
• ICE detention of five-year-old Liam Ramos with father in Minnesota raid — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father on Tuesday as they arrived home from school in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. According to school officials, an ICE agent used the child to knock on the family's front door before detaining both. The family had an active asylum case, entered legally at an official port of entry, and followed proper procedures. ICE transported them to Texas, with the boy suspected to be at the Dilley family detention facility. The Homeland Security Department defended the operation, but school superintendent Zena Stenvik disputed the agency's account of events.

Supporting reports

• Department of Homeland Security launches immigration crackdown operation in Maine — The Department of Homeland Security launched an immigration enforcement operation in Maine, officially dubbed "Catch of the Day," as part of the Trump administration's expanded immigration enforcement efforts.
• ICE launches "Operation Catch of the Day" immigration enforcement in Maine — Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents launched a targeted operation in Maine on January 21, 2026, claiming to target "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens." The operation has resulted in 206 detentions, though DHS provided only four examples of individuals with criminal records. Workers, unions, and residents report widespread racial profiling, fear, and economic disruption. Senator Susan Collins claimed the operation ended at her request, but residents and labor leaders dispute this, saying ICE remains active and causing ongoing chaos in the state.
• ICE launches Operation Catch of the Day targeting Somali immigrants in Maine — The Trump administration deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Maine on January 21, 2026, in a targeted operation dubbed "Operation Catch of the Day" aimed at Somali immigrants. Approximately 50 arrests were made on the first day, with ICE stating it has compiled a list of 1,400 individuals in Maine to target. The operation follows similar enforcement surges in Minneapolis and comes after the Trump administration announced it would end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis, giving hundreds two months to depart or face removal.
• DHS launches immigration crackdown operation in Maine dubbed "Catch of the Day" — The Department of Homeland Security launched an immigration enforcement operation in Maine with the name "Catch of the Day," as part of the Trump administration's expanded immigration crackdown efforts.
• Trump administration announces end of temporary protected status for Somalis — The Trump administration announced that in March 2026 it would terminate the temporary protected status (TPS) designation for Somali nationals in the United States. TPS has provided work authorization and protection from deportation for migrants from Somalia. This announcement follows the deployment of 2,000 ICE officers and 800 CBP agents to Minneapolis, which has the largest Somali population in the US, and the initiation of targeted arrests of Somalis in Maine.
• DHS deploys thousands of federal agents in Twin Cities under Operation Metro Surge — Thousands of DHS agents remain deployed in the Twin Cities under a federal operation branded "Operation Metro Surge." The deployment is ongoing as of January 23, 2026, and has prompted Minnesota's statewide economic blackout response and raised constitutional concerns about Fourth Amendment protections in the context of the leaked ICE memo on warrantless home entry.
• ICE enforcement surge in Maine under Operation Catch of the Day results in 100+ arrests within three days — ICE activity ramped up in Maine during the week of January 23, 2026, under a DHS-led enforcement operation branded "Operation Catch of the Day." Federal officials claim the operation targets "criminal" cases, but Maine leaders demanded transparency after reports of dozens of arrests on day one and over 100 arrests within the first three days. Local officials, including Cumberland County Sheriff, criticized ICE after one of his corrections-officer recruits with valid work authorization was detained. Growing fear has been reported in immigrant communities.
• ICE conducts mass immigration enforcement sweep across Maine, rapidly transferring detainees out of state — ICE agents conducted a federal immigration crackdown across Maine this week, apprehending more than 200 people. Federal authorities rapidly transferred detainees out of state, making it difficult for families and attorneys to locate them and file legal challenges. At least 50 immigrants were removed from Cumberland County jail on Thursday following a dispute between the sheriff and ICE over enforcement tactics. Data shows over 45% of Maine detainees are transferred to Louisiana, where some are held in tent facilities. Immigration attorneys report the pace of transfers appears designed to prevent legal intervention.

Supporting reports

• ICE memo authorizes warrantless home entry using force — An internal ICE memo from May 2025, reported by the Associated Press, authorizes agents to use force to enter people's homes without a warrant from a judge. Legal experts stated that such guidance violates the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable search and seizure.
• ICE memo claims authority for warrantless home entry — A leaked memo from ICE, signed by Acting Director Todd Lyons in May 2025, suggests that immigration agents may use an administrative removal document, Form I-205, as authority to enter homes and arrest individuals without a judge-signed warrant. This memo, reported by the Associated Press, raises significant Fourth Amendment concerns as it implies a shift from judicial oversight to administrative self-authorization for home entries by ICE agents.
• ICE Memo Signals Shift in Home Entry Protocols — A leaked memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suggests a potential policy shift from requiring judicial oversight to allowing administrative self-authorization for home entries. This change could have significant implications for Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures. The memo indicates an escalation in enforcement tactics, raising concerns about the balance between security measures and civil liberties. The response from civil society, particularly in Minnesota, includes plans for protests and economic disruptions to oppose this shift.
• ICE memo authorized warrantless home entries using only administrative paperwork — ICE whistleblowers and new reporting revealed a secret internal memo authorizing agents to force their way into people's homes without a judge's warrant, relying only on ICE-issued administrative paperwork that even DHS training materials say is unconstitutional. The memo was deliberately hidden, passed around verbally, and used to train new recruits, explaining recent door-busting raids like the one in Minneapolis where no judicial warrant was shown.
• ICE memo authorizes warrantless home entries based on administrative warrants — According to an internal ICE memo, federal immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to forcibly enter people's homes without a judge's warrant, marking a sharp reversal of longstanding constitutional guidance. The memo authorizes ICE officers to use force to enter residences based solely on administrative warrants to arrest individuals, bypassing judicial oversight requirements.
• Senator Blumenthal warned against secret ICE warrantless entry policy — Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) issued a public warning against the secret ICE policy authorizing agents to break into homes without judicial warrants. He characterized the policy as "unlawful & morally repugnant" and stated that "every American should be terrified" by it. Blumenthal emphasized that in a democracy, the government is barred from breaking into homes without approval from a judge, except in vanishingly rare circumstances.
• Leaked ICE memo attempts to redefine warrant standards to permit warrantless home entry — A leaked ICE memo attempts to justify home entry without a judge-signed judicial warrant, instead relying on internal administrative paperwork. The memo distinguishes between judicial warrants (signed by a judge) and administrative warrants (internal executive-branch paperwork), effectively claiming the executive branch can grant itself permission to enter homes. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has formally raised this as a constitutional violation in writing, citing Fourth Amendment concerns.

Supporting reports

• Labor unions and faith groups announce economic blackout in Minnesota to protest ICE enforcement surge and death of Renee Good — Labor unions, faith groups, and community leaders in Minnesota announced a planned economic blackout for Friday, January 23, 2026, calling on residents to refrain from work, shopping, and school attendance. The action protests the Trump administration's deployment of approximately 3,000 federal immigration agents to the state and the fatal shooting of Renee Good, 37, by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier in January. Over 2,400 arrests have occurred in recent weeks. Organizers held a press conference on January 21 outside Hennepin County government center to announce the blackout, which will include a march and rally downtown at 2 p.m. local time.
• Minnesota escalates to statewide economic blackout with downtown Minneapolis march — On January 23, 2026, Minnesota organizers launched a "Day of Truth and Freedom" statewide economic blackout, calling for a pause in normal life including work, school, and shopping, with a 2 PM march in downtown Minneapolis. The action represents an escalation from protest to coordinated economic disruption in response to federal enforcement operations and constitutional concerns raised by the leaked ICE memo.
• Minnesota organized general strike against ICE operations — Minnesotans organized an "ICE Out Day" general strike scheduled for January 23, 2026, calling for people to stay home from work, school, and shopping areas to protest federal ICE and CBP agents operating in the state. The strike received support from businesses, unions, faith organizations, democratic lawmakers, and community activists, representing a broad coalition response to ICE enforcement actions that resulted in the death of Renee Good.
• Tens of thousands protested ICE occupation of Minneapolis and St. Paul — Tens of thousands of Minnesotans took to the streets in bitter cold temperatures with wind chills of -20°F to protest the occupation of Minneapolis and St. Paul by federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Protesters carried signs and made statements comparing ICE agents to the Ku Klux Klan and calling out the administration's assault on constitutional protections including the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments.
• Killing of Renee Good by federal immigration officer in Minneapolis — An unarmed woman named Renee Good was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis earlier in January 2026. The killing prompted the "Day of Truth & Freedom" protest and economic blackout. Protesters demanded legal accountability for the officer and investigation of ICE for constitutional violations.
• DHS claims 3,000 ICE arrests in Minnesota over six weeks; Army deploys 1,500 soldiers on standby — The Department of Homeland Security announced it had made 3,000 arrests in Minnesota over the preceding six weeks as part of an ICE surge. The Trump administration dispatched 3,000 immigration officers to the state. The US Army placed 1,500 soldiers on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota in support of immigration enforcement operations.
• General strike spreads across United States with workers, nurses, and activists coordinating actions — A general strike that began in Minnesota is expanding to multiple states, with workers calling in sick, walking off jobs, and gathering in streets to protest Trump administration ICE and Border Patrol operations. In Minneapolis and Saint Paul, despite temperatures dropping to minus sixteen degrees Fahrenheit, turnout has remained strong. In New York City, more than 15,000 nurses have been on strike for over nine days demanding fair pay, safe staffing levels, and respect. Organizers aim to make this the largest general strike in modern U.S. history.

Supporting reports

• Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals lifts injunction blocking ICE pepper-spray and arrest of peaceful protesters in Minnesota — The Eighth US Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Trump administration's request for an administrative stay of a preliminary injunction issued by Judge Katherine Menendez on January 17, 2026. Menendez had prohibited ICE agents from pepper-spraying, arresting, or detaining peaceful protesters, and from stopping or detaining drivers without reasonable cause, ruling that ICE's actions had a "chilling effect" on First Amendment rights. The appeals court's temporary lifting of these restrictions came as Vice President JD Vance prepared to visit Minneapolis.
• Federal appeals court allows continued use of tear gas and pepper spray against protesters — A federal appeals court decision paved the way for federal officers to continue using tear gas and pepper spray against peaceful protesters in Minnesota. Following the ruling, a senior U.S. Border Patrol official threw tear gas at protesters in Minneapolis.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Tincher v. Noem (D. Minn.) 0:25-cv-04669 — The Eighth Circuit issued an administrative stay of Judge Menendez's preliminary injunction, temporarily lifting the restrictions on ICE's use of force against protesters.

Supporting reports

• Lindsey Halligan leaves US attorney position after judicial rulings of unlawful appointment — Lindsey Halligan, a Trump-appointed federal attorney with no prosecutorial experience who led failed cases against political opponents Letitia James and James Comey, departed her position as interim US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia. Multiple federal judges ruled her appointment unlawful and rejected the administration's argument for back-to-back interim appointments. A judge ordered her to cease using the title "US attorney" and threatened disciplinary proceedings; another judge declared the position vacant.
• Lindsey Halligan departs U.S. Attorney's Office following judicial criticism — Lindsey Halligan officially left the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia after serious judicial criticism and disputes over the legality of her authority. Courts determined that the executive branch could not unilaterally improvise authority and that appointments must follow established legal rules.
• Virginia U.S. Attorney resigns amid judicial criticism — Lindsey Halligan has resigned from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia following judicial criticism and disputes over the legality of her authority. This development underscores the judiciary's role in maintaining checks on executive appointments and authority.