Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• California Supreme Court orders sheriff to return confiscated ballots — California's Supreme Court ruled that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco unlawfully confiscated over 650,000 ballots during an inquiry into unsubstantiated fraud claims following a November 2025 special election. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero found the seizure violated election law and created substantial risk to election integrity. Attorney General Rob Bonta had ordered Bianco to return the ballots; Bianco refused. The court rejected Bianco's argument that the AG could not direct a sheriff's investigation, affirming state authority over election materials. Governor Newsom signed legislation preventing future ballot seizures.
• California Supreme Court ordered sheriff to return confiscated ballots — The California Supreme Court ordered Sheriff Chad Bianco to return the confiscated ballots, ruling that it was Bianco, not voters, who was endangering elections. The court stated: "Allowing law enforcement unfettered access to ballots, or the ability to handle and count them in secret, based on unregulated protocols, itself creates a substantial risk to election integrity."

Supporting reports

• DHS whistleblower alleges voter impersonation by federal agents — A Department of Homeland Security whistleblower alleged that DHS, as part of its "Unlawful Voter Initiative," directed federal agents to impersonate voters in violation of state laws, using Social Security numbers and other information to look up voter history on state websites. The allegation prompted US Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff to request an investigation by California's attorney general, citing concerns about how DHS obtained and used voter data and whether it complied with law.

Supporting reports

• DHS investigated left-wing groups after Alex Pretti's killing — The New York Times reported that the Department of Homeland Security quietly launched an investigation into several left-leaning political organizations in the wake of Alex Pretti's killing by federal immigration agents. The probe targeted many groups and individuals not connected to any criminal activity and involved expansive surveillance efforts, including infiltrating Signal group chats and obtaining financial records of organizations.
• Mayor Ginther ordered Columbus police to restrict Flock data sharing — Following an audit revealing 15,577 searches of Columbus's Flock network potentially related to immigration enforcement, Mayor Andrew Ginther issued an order directing Columbus police to stop statewide sharing of the city's Flock license plate data. Police had already restricted broader nationwide sharing. The order came after council members and residents questioned the use of the surveillance technology and its connection to federal immigration enforcement operations.
• Federal operation "Operation Puppet Master" targeted progressive organizations and anti-ICE activists — Court documents filed on Thursday reveal a federal operation called "Operation Puppet Master" that targeted progressive organizations, labor unions, and groups protesting the immigration crackdown in Minnesota. The Justice Department charged 15 defendants in June with crimes including conspiracy to impede federal officers, assault, threats, stalking, and destruction of government property. DHS officers entered meetings in churches, schools, and parks while working undercover, monitored activist chat groups, and used license plate numbers to identify people who attended gatherings. A DHS page titled "The Conspiracy" listed 18 organizations ranging from a Minneapolis bicycle repair collective to the AFL-CIO. At a January 31 meeting in Minneapolis, an undercover DHS officer listened as Sunrise Movement supporters discussed sit-ins, de-escalation, safety marshals, and police liaisons at events; the officer's report noted the group focused on peaceful protests.
• Columbus city council held six-hour hearing on Flock camera surveillance and immigration enforcement — Columbus residents and city officials spent approximately six hours on Monday debating the city's use of Flock Safety cameras. Council members questioned Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant and public safety officials about privacy, data sharing, and whether the city should continue using the technology. A recent audit found the Columbus Flock network had been searched 15,577 times for reasons potentially involving immigration enforcement, including searches by DHS, U.S. Border Patrol, and law enforcement participating in ICE's 287g program. Following the audit, Mayor Andrew Ginther ordered Columbus police to stop statewide sharing of Flock data.
• Flock Safety announced policy changes to address surveillance concerns — After months of backlash, Flock Safety announced new changes to its license plate reader policies. The company will reduce its standard data retention period from 30 days to 7 days, require law enforcement to use an auditing feature to identify abnormal searches, and require officers to connect searches to case codes from their records management systems. Flock will also give cities and police departments more control over the types of investigations outside agencies can conduct using the data, allowing jurisdictions to block outside searches tied to immigration enforcement. More than 50 agencies or jurisdictions have canceled, suspended, rejected, or deactivated Flock systems since the beginning of 2026.

Supporting reports

• Trump DOJ announces $300m "Model Cities" policing grants with ideological conditions — The Trump administration's Department of Justice announced a "Model Cities Initiative" offering up to $300 million in federal policing grants to two to four cities with populations exceeding 100,000 residents. In exchange for funding, recipient cities must comply with federal immigration enforcement, adopt conservative anti-homelessness policies, and agree to reimburse the federal government for costs of future federal law enforcement interventions or national guard deployments. The initiative cites Memphis and Washington DC as models, despite documented officer-involved deaths in Memphis. Several Democratic-led cities have declined to apply.

Supporting reports

• ICE and TSA expand airport immigration enforcement targeting visa overstayers and asylum seekers — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have dramatically expanded collaboration at US airports, conducting as many as three dozen daily arrests in July with a stated goal of 2,000 daily immigration arrests. Targets include people with pending visa, asylum, and green card applications, former au pairs, and asylum seekers with serious medical conditions. Airline workers have reportedly declined to assist federal agents, and Southwest Airlines gate agents refused to allow an ICE officer to board a plane without a judicial warrant. The airline industry has expressed workplace safety and legal concerns.

Supporting reports

• DHS/ICE sought court orders to force-feed at least 10 hunger strikers in immigration detention — Between 2025 and 2026, Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials obtained court orders to subject at least 10 detained immigrants to involuntary medical procedures, including force-feeding via nasogastric tubes, intravenous forced hydration, and involuntary blood draws. Court records show procedures were definitely performed on at least three detainees and probably on two more; five others ended their hunger strikes before procedures began. Cases span facilities in Texas, Florida, Washington, and Arizona. Many detainees lacked legal representation during proceedings.
• ICE force-feeding of detained hunger strikers revealed in at least 10 cases — Since Trump's return to office in January 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has subjected at least 10 detained immigrants to involuntary force-feeding procedures, including an Afghan man force-fed for nearly six months, a Ukrainian man whose force-feeding was stopped by legal intervention, and a Saudi woman who broke her strike under threat of the procedure. ICE obtained emergency court orders, often without the detainee's legal representation, to restrain hunger strikers and insert nasogastric tubes. Medical experts and human rights organizations characterize the practice as torture.
• ICE force-fed at least 10 detained hunger strikers — A Guardian investigation of court records identified at least 10 cases in which ICE sought to subject detained hunger strikers to involuntary medical procedures, with at least three and possibly five individuals force-fed. A Kurdish asylum seeker at Port Isabel Service Processing Center in Texas was force-fed for nearly eight months; another endured six months. The procedure involves guards restraining detainees while medical staff insert a tube through the nose into the stomach and pump liquid nutrition. Human rights organizations classify force-feeding of competent hunger strikers as torture.

Supporting reports

• Complaint and TRO motion filed in Mytych v. Griess (D.D.C.) — David Mytych, a member of Accountability NOW USA, filed a complaint and motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the National Park Service's denial of his permit to hold a counter-demonstration within sight and sound of the Freedom 250: Salute to America event on the National Mall on July 4, 2026. NPS offered McPherson Square and Indiana Plaza as alternate demonstration sites, which Mytych alleges are more than half a mile from the event and do not provide meaningful access to his intended audience. Mytych alleges the denial violates the First Amendment's speech and assembly protections, constitutes viewpoint discrimination and retaliation based on his anti-Trump message, and is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Supporting reports

• Out-of-state law enforcement deployed to Reflecting Pool — DC reporter Amanda Moore documented that multiple out-of-state law enforcement agencies—including Monroe County Sheriff, Oklahoma City Police, Oklahoma State Police, US Marshals, a Texas county sheriff, and a New York county sheriff—were present at the Reflecting Pool conducting detainments. Officers stated they had been deputized by the US Marshals and went through an orientation the previous day. They were deployed for 30 days as part of America 250 celebrations.

Supporting reports

• US Park Police arrested David Hearn for touching pool liner — David Hearn, a 67-year-old three-time Olympic canoeist, was arrested by US Park Police on a charge of destruction of government property after he touched a piece of the Reflecting Pool's liner that was already peeling and partially detached. Hearn stated he did not vandalize or remove anything, only touched the flapping material. The arrest occurred at the Lincoln Memorial.
• National Guard arrested Olympic athlete David Hearn at Reflecting Pool — David Hearn, a three-time Olympian, was arrested by National Guard troops at the Reflecting Pool after leaving the site. Hearn stated he was detained for five hours, photographed, fingerprinted, held incommunicado, and never read his rights. He said he did not believe he had done anything wrong when approached by the troops.
• Trump threatens ten-year prison sentences for pool damage without due process clarity — President Trump posted on Truth Social that anyone found to have harmed or attempted to harm the reflecting pool faces a ten-year prison sentence, which "will be fully enforced." Trump asserted that six people have been arrested for allegedly damaging the pool, though only one arrest was confirmed: David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoe racer from Maryland, who claimed he was detained for five hours by national guard troops and park police merely for reaching into the pool to examine peeling coating.

Supporting reports

• Police deploy teargas and arrest protesters outside Delaney Hall detention facility — Following the announcement of the women's strike on June 12, law enforcement responded to ongoing protests outside Delaney Hall. New Jersey state police and Newark local police deployed teargas and arrested dozens of protesters in an effort to disperse crowds gathered in support of striking detainees. This escalation followed earlier ICE use of pepper spray, tasers, and batons against protesters supporting the May 22 strike.

Supporting reports

• Newark Mayor imposes indefinite overnight curfew at Delaney Hall area — Newark Mayor Ras Baraka imposed an indefinite overnight curfew from 9pm to 6am in the area surrounding Delaney Hall immigration detention center, effective immediately following Saturday night clashes between state police and protesters. The curfew order threatened arrest or legal action against those who did not disperse during the restricted hours. The curfew was announced after violent confrontations in which state police on horseback and in riot gear used teargas, aggressive shoving, and arrests against demonstrators.

Supporting reports

• New Jersey state police deploy at Delaney Hall ICE facility; dozens of protesters arrested for curfew violations — On Sunday night, New Jersey state police in riot gear enforced a curfew at Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, resulting in arrests of at least 20–46 protesters who defied dispersal orders. Governor Mikie Sherrill had announced Friday that state law enforcement would take over policing duties from federal ICE officers following eight days of confrontations. The rapid deployment—less than 15 minutes after issuing a dispersal order—drew criticism from protesters, elected officials, and journalists, who alleged excessive force and attacks on press documenting the scene.

Supporting reports

• State police replace ICE officers outside Delaney Hall; violent clashes ensue — On Friday, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced that state police would replace ICE officers outside Delaney Hall detention center. State police established roadblocks approximately half a mile on either side of the facility. That night, clashes erupted when state police officers on horseback and in riot gear moved into the crowd of protesters, deploying teargas canisters, aggressively shoving demonstrators, and arresting six people. Advocates criticized the state police response as more aggressive than prior ICE conduct.
• State police deploy teargas and pepper balls against anti-ICE protesters at Newark detention facility — On Friday night, New Jersey state police fired teargas canisters and pepper ball pellets at anti-ICE protesters outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark. State police also deployed on horseback to drive protesters back. This followed Governor Mikie Sherrill's announcement that state officials would take over policing outside the facility from ICE, including attempts to establish a "protected speech zone" with fences. The action occurred amid a nine-day hunger and labor strike by detained immigrants demanding improved conditions and medical care.
• New Jersey state police deploy at Delaney Hall ICE facility; dozens of protesters arrested for curfew violations — On Sunday night, New Jersey state police in riot gear enforced a curfew at Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, resulting in arrests of at least 20–46 protesters who defied dispersal orders. Governor Mikie Sherrill had announced Friday that state law enforcement would take over policing duties from federal ICE officers following eight days of confrontations. The rapid deployment—less than 15 minutes after issuing a dispersal order—drew criticism from protesters, elected officials, and journalists, who alleged excessive force and attacks on press documenting the scene.
• Governor Sherrill establishes "free speech zone" restricting protester access to Delaney Hall — On Friday, Governor Mikie Sherrill enacted a "free speech zone" that kept protesters at least half a mile away from the entrance to Delaney Hall detention center. Protesters reported this restriction prevented them from being visible or heard by detainees inside, effectively nullifying their ability to demonstrate solidarity with those held in the facility during ongoing hunger and labor strikes.
• Newark Mayor imposes indefinite overnight curfew at Delaney Hall area — Newark Mayor Ras Baraka imposed an indefinite overnight curfew from 9pm to 6am in the area surrounding Delaney Hall immigration detention center, effective immediately following Saturday night clashes between state police and protesters. The curfew order threatened arrest or legal action against those who did not disperse during the restricted hours. The curfew was announced after violent confrontations in which state police on horseback and in riot gear used teargas, aggressive shoving, and arrests against demonstrators.
• DHS posts mocking video of protester arrest; launches "zero tolerance" messaging campaign — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security posted a video on its X account showing an unarmed protester being dragged at gunpoint by officers in riot gear, captioned "Don't be this guy." The post was part of a broader DHS messaging campaign on Sunday featuring slogans including "law and order," "ZERO tolerance for rioters," and "if you riot, you will face the consequences." The DHS also dismissed detainee complaints of poor food and lack of medical care as "a hoax."
• Journalist Adriano Kalin reports first direct police attack on press at anti-ICE protests — Photojournalist Adriano Kalin, documenting protests at Delaney Hall, reported that state police directly targeted press for the first time in his coverage of anti-ICE demonstrations nationwide. Kalin posted video footage of a flash-bang grenade thrown directly at his feet as state police in riot gear advanced on the crowd. He noted that while press had previously been in harm's way at other protests, they had never been deliberately targeted until this incident.
• New Jersey Governor Sherrill deploys state police to suppress Delaney Hall immigration detention protests — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill sent state police in riot gear to "lower the temperature" at protests outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, where 300+ detainees were conducting a hunger and labor strike over poor conditions. State police arrested dozens of protesters, hospitalized some, pulled journalists from vehicles and exposed them to teargas, and arrested other journalists who were held in custody for a full day. Sherrill blamed "outside agitators" and has not met strikers' demands, including a meeting with the governor.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice files charges against protester at ICE detention center — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the Department of Justice filed criminal charges against a protester who allegedly kicked and bit an ICE officer outside Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, New Jersey. The filing occurred amid escalating clashes between federal agents and demonstrators protesting conditions inside the facility and supporting detained immigrants engaged in a hunger and labor strike.

Supporting reports

• New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill denied entry to Delaney Hall — On Monday, May 26, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, was denied entry to Delaney Hall by facility management. Sherrill stated that the refusal raised "serious questions about what they are trying to hide from public view." A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson characterized Sherrill's visit as "nothing more than a political stunt on Memorial Day when visitation is currently suspended due to riots outside in the facility."
• New Jersey state police assume policing functions outside Delaney Hall ICE detention facility — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that state police will take over "public safety operations" from federal immigration officers outside Delaney Hall, a privately run ICE detention center in Newark. The state will establish a "peaceful protected zone" for demonstrators. The announcement coincides with reports of an influx of federal agents arriving to defend the facility and investigate protesters. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced DOJ charges against a protester accused of assaulting an ICE officer.

Supporting reports

• DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin denies hunger strike and poor conditions at Delaney Hall — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin posted on X denying that a hunger strike was occurring at Delaney Hall ICE detention center and asserting "There are no sub-prime conditions" at the facility. This contradicted claims by detainees who released a letter asserting they were on hunger and work strike, and by advocates documenting allegations of rotten food, lack of medical care, and non-functioning air conditioning.

Supporting reports

• ICE Pepper-Sprays Senator Andy Kim and Protesters at Newark Detention Facility — Federal agents deployed pepper spray against anti-ICE protesters outside an immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, where detainees were conducting a hunger strike over poor conditions and denial of medical care. Senator Andy Kim, who had been denied entry despite claiming ICE approval for a congressional oversight visit, was among those pepper-sprayed. Kim reported that detainees had been threatened with retaliation for their protest activities.
• Federal agents pepper-spray US senator and protesters at ICE detention facility in Newark — US Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) joined Governor Mikie Sherrill at a protest outside Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark on May 25, where detainees were staging a hunger strike over poor conditions and denied medical care. ICE agents used batons, pepper spray, and pepper balls against protesters and attempted to move vehicles through the crowd. Kim said he positioned himself between protesters and agents to de-escalate but was pepper-sprayed. The DHS later denied the hunger strike and claimed agents used minimum force against "rioters."

Supporting reports

• ICE agents deploy pepper spray and batons against protesters at New Jersey detention center — On May 24, 2026, ICE agents used pepper spray and batons to disperse approximately 70 protesters gathered outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey. Protesters had assembled to block the transfer of Martin Soto, a detainee who had announced a hunger and work strike demanding release of elderly, young, and medically vulnerable detainees. Despite the demonstration, ICE successfully transferred Soto to Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility. At least one protester was pepper-sprayed and another suffered a leg injury. Visitation at the facility was subsequently suspended.
• Law enforcement pepper-spray, tase, and arrest protesters at Delaney Hall during congressional oversight visit and detainee transfer — On May 24, during a congressional oversight visit to Delaney Hall, ICE officers pepper-sprayed protesters attempting to prevent the transfer of detainee Martin Soto, including U.S. Senator Andy Kim. The incident drew additional protesters to the facility. Government officials—ICE, New Jersey state police, and Newark police—have responded to ongoing demonstrations with pepper spray, tasers, tear gas, beatings, and arrests of dozens of protesters over the preceding two weeks.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge bans ICE arrests at Manhattan immigration courts except in rare cases — US District Judge P Kevin Castel issued a 15-page order on Monday prohibiting ICE agents from arresting immigrants at three federal courthouses in lower Manhattan (26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick Street, and 290 Broadway) except under exceptional circumstances or when public safety is threatened. The ruling responded to a lawsuit by the ACLU, New York Civil Liberties Union, Make the Road NY, and other groups. Castel found a strong governmental interest in immigration enforcement must be balanced against individuals' right to attend removal proceedings and pursue asylum claims without fear of arrest. The judge noted the Trump administration had recently reversed its position on whether 2025 policies applied to immigration courts, and he corrected what he called a "clear error" after prosecutors apologized for material misstatements to the court.

Supporting reports

• Veterans arrested during Iran war protest in Washington DC — Sixty-six veterans, including elderly and disabled participants, were arrested during a protest against the ongoing Iran war in Washington DC. Mike Prysner, Executive Director of the Center on Conscience and War, was among those arrested. Prysner stated that the war has claimed thousands of American lives and over a million Iraqi lives, and called on active service members to refuse deployment. The protest occurred as the U.S. continues military operations in Iran at an estimated cost of $1–2 billion per day.

Supporting reports

• DHS agent shoots USC student with less-lethal projectile at No Kings march, causing permanent eye loss — On 28 March, Tucker Collins, 18, an 18-year-old USC freshman and photographer, was struck in the right eye by a "less-lethal" projectile fired by a Department of Homeland Security agent during a No Kings protest outside the Metropolitan detention center in downtown Los Angeles. The impact fractured the bones in his eye socket; the eye was subsequently surgically removed. Collins's attorney states he was documenting the protest, posed no threat, and was shot in violation of a September federal court injunction prohibiting DHS use of force against journalists and legal observers exercising First Amendment rights. DHS claims officers followed training and used minimum necessary force after seven warnings.

Supporting reports

• Nine anti-ICE protesters convicted on terrorism support charges in Texas — Nine protesters were found guilty of providing material support to terrorists and related charges following a July 4, 2025 demonstration at Prairieland detention center near Fort Worth. Prosecutors alleged the defendants were part of an antifa cell and coordinated an ambush on law enforcement; the defendants maintained they planned a peaceful protest and brought firearms for self-defense. The case marked the first federal prosecution alleging individuals were part of an antifa terrorist cell. Sentencing ranges from 10 to life in prison.

Supporting reports

• Senator Tim Sheehy physically confronts protester at Senate hearing — Senator Tim Sheehy joined Capitol Police officers in ejecting a protester opposed to the Iran War from a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. During the confrontation, Sheehy's arm became stuck behind a door as he threw his weight against it, resulting in an audible crack of Brian McGinnis's arm breaking. McGinnis is a Marine Corps veteran wearing his dress uniform. When a spectator called Sheehy a coward, the senator appeared to respond with profanity. Sheehy later claimed he was attempting to "de-escalate the situation" and blamed McGinnis for "causing…violence."
• Senator Tim Sheehy Involved in Controversial Incident — Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) faced backlash after physically confronting a protester during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, resulting in the protester's arm breaking. Sheehy later claimed he was attempting to de-escalate the situation, but his actions raised questions about his conduct and the treatment of dissent in legislative settings.

Supporting reports

• Surveillance and pretrial detention used as punishment without conviction in Mazurek case — Over three years, John Mazurek endured two months of jail detention, 24-hour house arrest with ankle monitoring for six months, continued ankle monitoring for an additional 12 months, and a hidden surveillance camera placed on a utility pole outside his house. These measures were imposed during the pretrial period without any conviction. Mazurek characterized the experience as "the process was the punishment," noting that authorities used pretrial detention and surveillance as a de facto sentence despite his lack of conviction. The hidden camera was removed only after The Guardian reported on it and raised Fourth Amendment concerns.

Supporting reports

• John Mazurek accepts Alford plea in Cop City arson case, resolves three-year prosecution without conviction — John Mazurek, a 33-year-old Georgia carpenter, resolved a three-year felony arson case by accepting an Alford plea to the reduced charge of criminal damage to property on March 7, 2026. Superior Court Judge Emily Richardson approved the plea, which carries a decade of probation but no conviction. Mazurek had faced up to 20 years for allegedly burning police motorcycles during July 2023 protests against a police training facility. The case involved two months of jail time, 24-hour house arrest, ankle monitoring, and persistent surveillance. Prosecutors' evidence centered on trace DNA from a soda bottle fashioned into an incendiary device, though defense analysis showed genetic material from up to five additional people on the bottle.
• Probation conditions imposed on Mazurek restrict First Amendment protest activity and association — As part of the Alford plea resolution, Judge Emily Richardson imposed probation conditions requiring Mazurek to abstain from "activities, movements, rallies or protests … outwardly expressing or proclaiming anti-government sentiment" for ten years. He was also prohibited from associating with "Defend the Atlanta Forest," described by prosecutors as a group but which functioned as a social media account broadcasting movement messages. Legal experts note such conditions are common in politically motivated prosecutions and serve to isolate defendants and communities from legitimate First Amendment activity.