Public research archive

War Crimes 2026

A continuously updated ledger of removals, institutional dismantlement, clemency, and executive actions that raise serious rights and rule-of-law concerns.

Since January 20, 2025 · Day 429

The archive is organized as a dated public record: incident first, legal posture explicit, updates preserved, sources inspectable.

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Published incidents 4
Critical concerns 2
Ongoing matters 3
Public documents 2

Featured record

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deported to El Salvador Despite Withholding Order

Incident March 15, 2025 · Updated April 10, 2025

Federal officials removed Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador despite a preexisting withholding order barring that destination, then spent weeks litigating what it meant to 'facilitate' his return after the Supreme Court intervened.

  • An immigration judge had already barred Abrego Garcia's removal to El Salvador.
  • Public reporting said he was transferred into El Salvador's CECOT prison system.
  • The Supreme Court later required the government to facilitate his return, leaving compliance disputes active.
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern Deportation & Immigration Active litigation
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Recent changes

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  1. September 25, 2025

    Mass Firing of Inspectors General Across Federal Government

    Updated the entry to reflect the district-court ruling finding the removals violated the Inspector General Act's notice requirement.

  2. April 10, 2025

    Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deported to El Salvador Despite Withholding Order

    Updated legal posture and summary after the Supreme Court required the government to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return.

  3. February 12, 2025

    Mass Firing of Inspectors General Across Federal Government

    Added litigation posture after fired watchdogs sought reinstatement.

Dossiers

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All dossiers
Executive accountability and institutional breakdown 2 recordsEl Salvador removals and emergency deportation powers 2 records

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Recently updated records

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Updated September 25, 2025 Federal Dismantlement
Serious Rights Violation Ongoing Judicial finding

Mass Firing of Inspectors General Across Federal Government

Trump fired at least 17 inspectors general across the federal government without the advance notice to Congress that the Inspector General Act generally requires, and a later federal ruling said the notice failure violated the statute.

  • At least 17 inspectors general were removed in a single sweep across multiple agencies.
  • The Inspector General Act generally requires notice to Congress before removal.
Sources
5
Documents
0
Updates
2
Updated April 10, 2025 Deportation & Immigration
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern Ongoing Active litigation

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deported to El Salvador Despite Withholding Order

Federal officials removed Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador despite a preexisting withholding order barring that destination, then spent weeks litigating what it meant to 'facilitate' his return after the Supreme Court intervened.

  • An immigration judge had already barred Abrego Garcia's removal to El Salvador.
  • Public reporting said he was transferred into El Salvador's CECOT prison system.
Sources
4
Documents
0
Updates
1
Deportation & Immigration
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern Ongoing Active litigation

Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to Accelerate Venezuelan Deportations

The administration invoked a rarely used 1798 wartime statute to justify accelerated removals of Venezuelan nationals, including transfers into El Salvador's detention system, prompting immediate litigation over both process and statutory scope.

  • The proclamation treated Tren de Aragua activity as an 'invasion' or 'predatory incursion' under the Alien Enemies Act.
  • The government used the proclamation to argue for removals with sharply reduced individualized process.
Sources
4
Documents
1
Updates
0
Rule of Law
Serious Rights Violation Official executive action

Blanket Clemency for January 6 Defendants, Including Violent Offenders

Trump used his first day back in office to grant sweeping clemency to January 6 defendants, including people convicted of violent attacks on police and leaders of groups convicted of seditious conspiracy.

  • The clemency action covered most January 6 defendants on Trump's first day back in office.
  • It extended to violent offenders and leaders of groups convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Sources
4
Documents
1
Updates
0

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Deportation & Immigration 2Rule of Law 1Foreign Policy & War 0Civil Rights 0Corruption & Self-Dealing 0Federal Dismantlement 1

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Reported record 0Active litigation 2Judicial finding 1Official executive action 1