Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Mahmoud Khalil files $20m damages claim against Trump administration for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution — Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and Palestinian activist detained by the Trump administration for over three months, filed a $20 million damages claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act against the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and the State Department. The claim alleges false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and defamation as an antisemite in connection with his pro-Palestinian campus activism and deportation proceedings. Khalil was released in June 2025 after months in immigration detention without criminal charges.

Supporting reports

• Justice Department files statement of interest in deplatforming antitrust case — The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division filed a statement of interest in federal court in Children's Health Defense et al. v. Washington Post et al., a case in which plaintiffs allege they were deplatformed for sharing independent COVID-19 commentary. The DOJ statement argues that antitrust law protects viewpoint competition in news markets and that companies abusing market power to suppress independent voices harm competition and the free flow of information. The filing positions the Antitrust Division as defending "free markets, including the marketplace of ideas."

Supporting reports

• Federal court issues temporary restraining order limiting ICE arrests based on race or occupation in central California — On 11 July, a federal judge in the central district of California issued a temporary restraining order restricting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting people based on race or occupation. The order came in response to an ACLU lawsuit documenting that ICE agents had conducted sweeps targeting people with brown skin, often without warrants or reasonable suspicion. The judge found "a mountain of evidence" supporting allegations of racial profiling. The order applies to the federal court's jurisdiction covering over 19 million people in southern and central California, though enforcement has continued outside the protected zone.
• Federal judge issues temporary restraining order limiting ICE stop authority in Los Angeles — A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order against DHS immigration enforcement operations in the Los Angeles region, prohibiting agents from stopping individuals without "reasonable suspicion" of immigration law violation. The order explicitly bars agents from using race, ethnicity, accent, location type (bus stops, car washes, day labor sites, agricultural sites), or presence at particular locations as justification for stops. The ruling directly responds to legal complaints documenting systematic racial profiling during weeks of intensive ICE raids and represents a potential major disruption to the federal government's enforcement campaign.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Pedro Vasquez Perdomo v. Markwayne Mullin (C.D. Cal.) 2:25-cv-05605 — The district court granted two temporary restraining orders , barring immigration officers from stopping individuals based on inappropriate factors including race, accent, location or work, and requiring that detainees in a federal building in Los Angeles be provided access to counsel at all times.

Supporting reports

• Case update — Board of Education for the Silver Consolidated Schools v. McMahon (D.N.M.) 2:25-cv-00586 — State Attorneys General submitted an amicus brief in support of Plaintiffs.
• Case update — Melgar-Salmeron v. Bondi (2d Cir.) 23-7792 — The Second Circuit ordered that the government file a declaration every week informing the court of the petitioner's location and what steps the government is taking to facilitate the petitioner's return, as well as the legal basis for his continued detention in El Salvador.
• Dismissal entered — Planned Parenthood of Greater New York v. Department of Health and Human Services (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01334 — Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the district court case, which the court closed on July 14.
• Motion granted — American Association of University Professors v. Rubio (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10685 — The First Circuit granted a stay of any further disclosure while considering the petition, and subsequently denied the writ of mandamus on July 18.
• Notice of appeal filed — A.S.R. v. Trump (W.D. Pa.) 3:25-cv-00113 — Defendants filed notice of appeal to the Third Circuit as to Judge Haines' May 13 preliminary injunction and certain connected court orders.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — State of New Jersey v. Bondi (D. Md.) 1:25-cv-01807 — Plaintiffs withdrew their motion for a preliminary injunction.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Thakur v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) 3:25-cv-04737 — The administration filed a motion for a stay of preliminary injunction to the Ninth Circuit, seeking to reverse Judge Lin's order blocking the administration's mass termination of University of California research grants tied to DEI-related topics.
• Summary judgment ruling — Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services v. Noem (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00306 — The D.C. Circuit granted an administrative stay of Judge Moss's July 2 summary judgment.
• Summary judgment ruling — Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01270 — Judge Reyes denied Plaintiffs' preliminary injunction motion as moot following the parties' joint motion for expedited discovery and briefing of cross-motions for summary judgment.

Supporting reports

• ICE raids two California cannabis farms with chemical munitions deployed against protesters — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, accompanied by National Guard troops in military vehicles, conducted raids on two Glass House Farms locations in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties on July 10. Federal agents fired chemical munitions (smoke/tear gas) to disperse protesters gathered on roads near the farms. Video showed children fleeing, workers being detained with bound hands, and local officials including U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal being denied entry to observe the operation. At least three people were transported to hospitals. The company stated it fully complied with search warrants.
• ICE raids on cannabis farms used tear gas and less-lethal ammunition; disabled veteran U.S. citizen arrested — On July 10, 2025, ICE agents conducted raids on two licensed cannabis farms in Southern California. Agents deployed less-lethal ammunition and tear gas, injuring multiple people, one critically. Agents arrested 200 people, including George Retes, a 25-year-old disabled veteran and U.S. citizen employed as a security guard at one farm. ICE agents claimed Retes was a protester. His family reported that local sheriff and police departments stated they do not know his whereabouts.
• Detainees denied legal access and confidential attorney communication — Immigration attorneys reported being denied access to the Everglades detention facility to meet with clients and unable to have confidential phone calls with detainees. This denial of legal access prevents detainees from receiving counsel regarding their cases and violates fundamental due-process protections, particularly significant given that nearly half of ICE detainees lack criminal records.
• George Retes, U.S. Army veteran, detained and held without legal process for three days — On July 10, 2025, George Retes, a 25-year-old U.S. Army veteran, was detained by federal agents while traveling to work as a security guard at a Southern California cannabis farm. Despite identifying himself as a U.S. citizen with identification in his nearby car, Retes was violently arrested, held in a jail cell for three days and nights, and denied the right to make a phone call, see an attorney, appear before a judge, or access basic hygiene after being exposed to pepper spray and tear gas.
• Farm worker dies from injuries sustained during ICE raid on California cannabis farm — Jaime Alanís, 57, a farm worker at Glass House Farms in Ventura County, California, died from catastrophic injuries after falling approximately 30 feet from a greenhouse roof during a Department of Homeland Security immigration enforcement raid on July 11, 2025. The raid resulted in the arrest of at least 200 workers suspected of being in the country without legal status. Alanís called his family saying he was hiding and fleeing agents before the fall. He sustained a broken neck, fractured skull, and severed artery. DHS stated he was not in custody when he fell, though the raid created the circumstances leading to his death.

Supporting reports

• ICE arrested Trump-supporting Iranian-American mother despite decades of U.S. residency — Arpineh Masihi, a Trump-supporting mother of four U.S.-born children, was arrested by ICE despite having lived in the United States since age 3. She was handcuffed in front of her children at her home in Los Angeles and is now detained at a facility in the Mojave Desert. Despite her arrest, Masihi continues to support Trump's immigration policies.

Supporting reports

• DOJ Antitrust Division closes investigation into T-Mobile/UScellular merger without seeking injunction — The Department of Justice Antitrust Division announced on July 10, 2025, that it had closed its investigation into T-Mobile's proposed acquisition of UScellular without seeking an injunction to block the deal. Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater stated that while the investigation raised concerns about wireless market consolidation and spectrum aggregation—noting the "Big 3" carriers control over 90 percent of U.S. mobile subscriptions and 80 percent of spectrum—the Department concluded that potential consumer benefits from network improvements outweighed competitive harms. The statement acknowledged risks to future competition from continued spectrum consolidation but determined enforcement was not warranted in this case.

Supporting reports

• Trump announces 50% tariff on Brazil, citing Bolsonaro trial as "witch-hunt" — On Wednesday, President Trump announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian products, explicitly linking it to what he called a "witch-hunt" trial against former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. Trump also announced tariffs on seven other countries (Philippines, Brunei, Moldova, Algeria, Libya, Iraq, Sri Lanka) ranging from 25–30%, effective 1 August. Trump cited Brazil's regulation of social media platforms and claimed an unfair trade deficit. Brazilian President Lula rejected the demands, asserting Brazil's sovereignty and independent judiciary.

Supporting reports

• White House issues release on restricting benefits access for undocumented immigrants — The White House issued a release stating that at President Trump's direction, the administration is restricting undocumented immigrants' access to taxpayer-funded benefits across multiple federal agencies. The release claims the action preserves approximately $40 billion in benefits for U.S. citizens and states that the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Agriculture, Labor, and Justice are implementing restrictions on programs including Head Start, post-secondary education tuition, food assistance, workforce development, and other services. The release frames this as reversing "decades of bureaucratic defiance."

Supporting reports

• State Department announces mass layoffs affecting 15% of domestic staff — The US State Department announced plans to lay off approximately 1,800 employees (nearly 15% of domestic staff) through reductions in force (RIFs) and voluntary redundancies. The restructuring will merge or eliminate several hundred bureaus and realign the department's mission with Trump administration foreign policy priorities. The layoffs proceed after the Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration against a federal judge's hold on mass government firings. Bureaus focused on immigration and democracy promotion will see significantly altered missions.

Supporting reports

• Justice Department announces investigation into Minnesota hiring practices — The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division announced an investigation into the State of Minnesota and its Department of Human Services to determine whether state employment hiring practices discriminate based on race and sex. The investigation was prompted by a Minnesota policy requiring hiring supervisors to justify hiring non-underrepresented candidates, with non-compliance subject to disciplinary action. The Civil Rights Division will investigate whether Minnesota engages in a pattern or practice of discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Supporting reports

• Case update — American Association of University Professors v. Rubio (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10685 — Following a bench order by Judge Young that Defendants waived all privileges for the documents produced to the Court in camera, and the Defendants filed a writ of mandamus with the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit seeking to compel the District Court to reverse its waiver finding and vacate its disclosure order.
• Case update — Center for Biological Diversity v. Office of Management and Budget (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00165 — The district court ordered all proceedings in the case stayed until a final decision is rendered on whether a USDS is an agency subject to the Freedom of Information Act in Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington (“CREW”) v. USDS, 349 F.R.D. 1 (April 15, 2025) (Cooper, J.) , on Petition for Writ of Mandamus, No. 25-130 (D.C. Cir.) .
• Case update — King County v. Turner (W.D. Wash.) 2:25-cv-00814 — Plaintiffs filed their second amended complaint .
• Motion granted — Learning Resources v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01248 — The parties filed a joint status report requesting a stay of the proceedings pending the D.C. Circuit's resolution of the pending appeal. On July 18, Judge Rudolph Contreras granted a stay of the proceedings.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — State of Maryland v. Corporation for National and Community Service (D. Md.) 1:25-cv-01363 — Judge Boardman issued a modified preliminary injunction order to amend the scope of the injunctive relief to only be applicable to the Plaintiff States following the Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. Casa, Inc .
• Summary judgment ruling — CASA, Inc. v. Noem (D. Md.) 8:25-cv-01484 — Judge Theodore David Chuang issued an order and opinion denying Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment and to stay the agency action under 5 U.S.C. § 705, declining to halt the administration's termination of Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for nationals of Afghanistan and Cameroon . Judge Chuang also denied the government's cross-motion for summary judgment and motion to dismiss the complaint.
• Summary judgment ruling — Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00943 — The court denied Plaintiffs' motion to Expedite Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule and stayed the case pending resolution of the appeals.

Supporting reports

• New Hampshire federal judge blocks Trump's birthright citizenship executive order nationwide — Federal Judge Joseph LaPlante in New Hampshire issued a nationwide injunction blocking Trump's January 2025 executive order that denied citizenship to children born to undocumented parents. The judge certified a sweeping class-action lawsuit on behalf of pregnant women and infants, finding the government's constitutional arguments unpersuasive and ruling that deprivation of citizenship constitutes irreparable harm. A seven-day stay was granted to allow appeal. The decision follows a recent Supreme Court ruling restricting nationwide injunctions, making class-action suits the primary mechanism for district judges to halt policy across large areas.
• Federal judge granted class action status to birthright citizenship lawsuit — On July 10, 2025, a federal judge appointed by Republican President George W. Bush granted class action status to a lawsuit challenging Trump's executive order attacking birthright citizenship. U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante barred the administration from denying citizenship to U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants. Judge Laplante paused his ruling for one week to give the administration time to appeal.
• Class Action Status Granted in Birthright Citizenship Lawsuit — A federal judge granted class action status to a lawsuit challenging Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, preventing the administration from denying citizenship to U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants. The judge paused the ruling for a week to allow for an appeal.

Supporting reports

• Senator Durbin stated Bove should not be appointed to federal bench — On July 10, 2025, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement that Emil Bove "belongs nowhere near the federal bench." Durbin characterized the allegations as "a declaration of defiance of our courts at the highest level of our government by a man who now seeks a lifetime appointment to one of the highest courts in our land."

Supporting reports

• Timothy Leiweke indicted for bid-rigging conspiracy on Texas arena contract — Timothy Leiweke, former president of the Denver Nuggets and ex-CEO of MLSE, was charged by federal grand jury on Wednesday with organizing a conspiracy to rig bidding for the $388 million Moody Center at the University of Texas at Austin. Investigators allege Leiweke conspired with a competitor's CEO from February 2018 to June 2024, arranging for the rival firm to withdraw its bid in exchange for subcontracts. OVG, Leiweke's company, won the sole bid and completed the arena in 2022, continuing to receive significant revenues. Leiweke resigned as OVG CEO following the indictment.

Supporting reports

• Senate Democrats released documents supporting whistleblower complaint against Bove — On July 10, 2025, Senate Democrats released a trove of documents provided by whistleblower Erez Reuveni to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The documents, including texts and emails, confirm that Department of Justice lawyers misled Judge James Boasberg about the timing of deportations to El Salvador. One DOJ lawyer told the judge he did not know when the Trump administration intended to deport the men, while internal communications showed DOJ lawyers knew deportations were planned within 24 hours.

Supporting reports

• White House posted image of "Superman Trump" on social media — On July 10, 2025, the White House posted an image on X (formerly Twitter) depicting a much younger President Trump dressed as Superman with fists clenched against a gauzy background, captioned "TRUTH. JUSTICE. THE AMERICAN WAY."

Supporting reports

• EPA Secretary Zeldin announced investigation into geoengineering conspiracy theory — EPA Secretary Lee Zeldin announced he will investigate claims advanced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and others that the "Deep State" caused the Texas floods through geoengineering and contrails. Zeldin framed the investigation as responding to legitimate public questions that had previously been dismissed by media and government.

Supporting reports

• Justice Alito attacked same-sex marriage protections — Justice Samuel Alito joined Justice Thomas in attacking the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that provides federal protection for same-sex marriage, arguing that the right should be left to voters in individual states, even as Republican-dominated states pass laws restricting voting access.
• Justice Alito's stance on same-sex marriage — Justice Samuel Alito has joined Justice Thomas in questioning the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which established federal protections for same-sex marriage, suggesting that this right should be left to state voters.
• Justice Thomas called for reexamination of federal contraception and same-sex marriage protections — Following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas argued in his concurrence that federal protections for access to birth control and same-sex marriage should also be reexamined and potentially overturned, returning those decisions to the states.
• Justice Thomas's comments on federal protections — Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that the Supreme Court should reexamine federal protections for access to birth control and same-sex marriage, indicating a willingness to allow states to decide these issues.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi rescinds 30-year-old federal benefits exemption for undocumented immigrants — Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced the rescission of a 1996 order that had exempted certain federal benefit programs from the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act (PRWORA) restrictions on benefits to non-citizens. The order, originally issued by Attorney General Janet Reno, had created broad exceptions to PRWORA's limitation of public benefits to citizens and "qualified aliens." Bondi's action, conforming to a Trump Executive Order, expressly declines to exempt any programs from PRWORA, effective immediately.
• White House issues release on restricting benefits access for undocumented immigrants — The White House issued a release stating that at President Trump's direction, the administration is restricting undocumented immigrants' access to taxpayer-funded benefits across multiple federal agencies. The release claims the action preserves approximately $40 billion in benefits for U.S. citizens and states that the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Agriculture, Labor, and Justice are implementing restrictions on programs including Head Start, post-secondary education tuition, food assistance, workforce development, and other services. The release frames this as reversing "decades of bureaucratic defiance."

Supporting reports

• DOJ issues subpoenas to clinics and doctors providing gender-affirming care to minors — The U.S. Department of Justice issued more than 20 subpoenas to clinics and doctors offering gender-affirming care to minors, following Attorney General Pam Bondi's April 22 memo directing federal prosecutors to investigate and prosecute providers under FGM statutes. The specific recipients and information requested remain unclear. Medical associations maintain that such care provides lifesaving treatment; a Stanford study found better mental health outcomes for transgender youth receiving hormone therapy. The investigation has not yet resulted in charges but may serve to deter providers from offering care.
• Department of Justice subpoenas doctors and clinics performing gender-affirming medical procedures on minors — The Department of Justice announced on July 9, 2025, that it has issued more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in performing transgender medical procedures on children. The investigations, announced by Attorney General Pamela Bondi, allege healthcare fraud, false statements, and related violations. The department characterized the procedures as "mutilation" in service of "warped ideology." The subpoenas represent the opening phase of a federal investigation into these medical practices.

Supporting reports

• Federal prosecutors charge nine protesters with conspiracy for blocking ICE transport — Federal prosecutors brought conspiracy charges against nine demonstrators who protested Joswar Torres's detention in June 2025, including blocking an ICE transport vehicle. The charges mark an escalation in prosecuting First Amendment protest activity. Richard Barker, a career DOJ prosecutor and acting U.S. attorney for eastern Washington, resigned rather than sign the indictments, citing that protesters were exercising free speech rights and witnessing injustice.
• War veteran faces six-year prison sentence for protest participation — Bajun Mavalwalla, an Afghanistan war veteran, was charged with conspiracy for participating in the June 2025 protest against Torres's detention. He faces up to six years in prison if convicted and has pleaded not guilty, intending to take the case to trial. His prosecution exemplifies the federal government's aggressive pursuit of protest participants.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention of Egyptian imam Ayman Soliman following immigration check-in — Ayman Soliman, a 51-year-old Egyptian imam and hospital chaplain, was detained by ICE and FBI agents on July 9 during a routine immigration check-in in Cincinnati. He was held at Butler County Jail for over 10 weeks under allegations of terror-related charges in Egypt, despite having fled Egypt in 2014 after detention for his journalism work. Soliman was subjected to isolation, denial of commissary access, restricted attorney contact, and alleged abuse by correctional officers. He was released in mid-September with his visa status restored after legal intervention.
• ICE detention of Egyptian-born imam Ayman Soliman at routine immigration check-in — Ayman Soliman, an Egyptian-born imam at Clifton mosque in Cincinnati, Ohio, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 9 while attending a routine check-in appointment. USCIS had terminated his seven-year asylum status, alleging he provided material support to the Muslim Brotherhood through membership in an Egyptian charity organization. Neither the Brotherhood nor the charity are designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. Soliman's lawyers argue the reasoning is pretextual and may constitute retaliation for his prior lawsuit against the government. He faces an immigration judge hearing on July 22 and a bond hearing on July 23.

Supporting reports

• Jeff Small contacts Colorado election clerks requesting access to voting machines — Jeff Small, a political consultant claiming to work with the White House on Trump's election security executive order, contacted at least 10 Republican county clerks in Colorado via text and phone between July 9–24, 2025, requesting access to voting equipment and election records. Clerks including Steve Schleiker (El Paso), Justin Grantham (Fremont), and Bobbie Gross (Mesa) reported the requests as alarming and potentially illegal. Small's lawyer later claimed he was acting on a volunteer basis during paternity leave. DHS distanced itself from Small, stating he has no official role. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold called the defense "completely misleading."

Supporting reports

• Greg Abbott announces plan to redraw Texas congressional districts — Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a plan to redraw the state's congressional districts as part of his legislative priorities for the upcoming session beginning July 21. The move, reportedly made in response to Trump administration pressure for additional Republican seats, would constitute a mid-decade gerrymander. Democrats and voting-rights advocates condemned the action as an attack on democracy, particularly given its timing during a state emergency following deadly flooding. The Texas legislature, with Republican majorities in both chambers, is expected to approve Abbott's conservative agenda.