Border policy figure and former ICE official
As of April 3, 2026, the US Department of Homeland Security remains partially unfunded since February 14, causing over 100,000 DHS employees, including TSA workers, to go unpaid. The shutdown has led to severe staffing shortages at airports, with TSA officers resigning and calling out sick, resulting in long security lines and missed flights. President Trump deployed paid ICE agents to assist TSA with crowd control, but congressional deadlock over DHS funding and immigration enforcement reforms continues, prolonging travel disruptions nationwide.
The annual conservative conference CPAC in Texas saw notable absences, including Donald Trump, amid shifting dynamics within the Republican Party. Discussions focus on future leadership, Iran, and the party’s direction post-Trump, with new figures like Liz Truss making appearances and debates about the party's ideological future.
A new poll shows that half of Americans, including a quarter of Trump voters, view President Trump’s mass deportation efforts as too aggressive. Despite leadership changes, public opinion remains broadly negative, with concerns about safety and the effectiveness of immigration enforcement. The administration continues to defend its strategy.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicted 43 individuals tied to the Mexican Mafia in a sweeping operation across Orange County, with cases spanning murder, kidnapping, extortion and drug trafficking. Authorities have seized firearms, cash and narcotics as part of the ongoing effort to disrupt the gang’s reach from prisons to the streets.
AP and other outlets report a recalibration of U.S. immigration enforcement. The administration has moved away from highly publicized tactics while maintaining deportation targets. ICE arrests have declined nationally since leadership changes in late January, though pockets of activity persist in several states.
New York has reached a budget deal that bars state and local officials from cooperating with ICE, and bars ICE from housing detainees in local jails. The policy also bars wearing masks by law enforcement and provides guardrails on enforcement, with officials arguing it protects residents from federal crackdowns while ICE vows to intensify manpower.
A coalition of states and the federal government are clashing over anti-ICE measures and undercover enforcement rules. New York’s budget package tightens cooperation with federal immigration authorities, while other states and the DOJ have filed lawsuits or threatened legal action to defend or contest these policies.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said the department is drawing up plans to halt customs processing at international airports in sanctuary cities, signaling a potential disruption to major hubs including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. He has also argued that sanctuary jurisdictions hinder immigration enforcement and may prompt changes to travel safety procedures.
The White House has signaled an increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence in New York City after New York state enacted sanctuary protections. Officials describe a planned, targeted operation to remove migrants, with local cooperation restricted under new laws. Governors warn of political and economic fallout.
Fifteen people have been charged with conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers and related offenses linked to Direct Action Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. Twelve arrests were made; two remain at large and one is in custody. The defendants are tied to antifa groups and coordinated actions to disrupt immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, raising questions about protest rights and federal response.
Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz detention facility has been closed and all detainees transferred to other sites as hurricane season begins. Officials say the move prioritizes safety, but critics warn the harm to detainees and ongoing costs persist amid legal battles and environmental concerns.
A wave of new reporting outlines how President Trump has framed power in global terms while facing constraints from the economy and institutional checks. The latest material shows a push to broaden influence beyond the United States, even as aides warn of political and economic limits.
The Trump administration has nominated Lance Schroyer, a 29-year law-enforcement veteran and former Oklahoma State Trooper, to head U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The nomination follows Mullin’s push and comes as ICE expands under a nationwide growth plan. Senate confirmation is pending amid scrutiny of detainee deaths and ICE practices.