Trump’s Twelfth Week: Deportation Surge and Trade War Chaos
Trump escalates deportations and pulls back on trade tariffs in a chaotic twelfth week.
Week Twelve of Trump’s second term has brought heightened volatility in both global and national affairs, as trade wars escalate and anti-immigrant sentiment deepens. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to enforce the controversial Alien Enemies Act—legislation that permits the president to detain and deport noncitizens deemed threats to national security.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio later announced the revocation of all existing U.S. visas for South Sudanese nationals—not to be confused with neighboring Sudan—citing South Sudan’s failure to repatriate deportees “in a timely manner.” Trump officials also unveiled plans to fine deportees up to $988 per day if they fail to leave the country, with the possibility of property seizures for noncompliance.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked parole for immigrants who entered the U.S. through the CBP One app—a Biden-era initiative designed for asylum seekers—placing more than 900,000 people at risk of deportation. As previously reported by The Introspective, the CBP One app was initially shut down under Trump’s second administration and later rebranded as CBP Home.
Further controversy erupted after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agreed to share immigrant tax records with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help identify and deport undocumented immigrants. The acting IRS commissioner has since resigned. Meanwhile, DHS announced a new policy to screen immigrants’ social media accounts for antisemitic content following the arrests of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident, and Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk.
Amid rising tensions over the ongoing trade war, President Trump paused most retaliatory tariffs for 90 days. However, tariffs on Chinese goods surged to 125%, while those on other countries remain at 10%. Stock markets initially responded positively, posting their best single-day performance since October 2008.
In line with Trump’s push to downsize the federal government, the Supreme Court also cleared the way for the mass termination of more than 16,000 federal employees across six agencies, including the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Immigration Crackdowns
As anti-immigrant sentiment continues to escalate, the Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to enforce the Alien Enemies Act — part of the 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts — which permits the president to arrest, detain and deport noncitizens considered a threat to national security.
The decision follows earlier reports from The Introspective that detailed the president deporting alleged gang members to El Salvador, despite a lack of evidence confirming any gang affiliation.
The unsigned 5–4 ruling emphasized that deported individuals are still entitled to due process and can challenge their removal through habeas corpus.
“AEA detainees must receive notice after the date of this order that they are subject to removal under the Act. The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs,” the court wrote.
In a Truth Social post, President Trump praised the decision as “a great day for justice.”
“The Supreme Court has upheld the Rule of Law in our Nation by allowing a president — whoever that may be — to secure our borders and protect our families and our country itself,” Trump wrote.
Simultaneously, the U.S. revoked visas for all South Sudanese passport holders and nationals. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the country of refusing to repatriate its citizens deported from the United States.
“Enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States. Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” Rubio said in a press release.
South Sudanese nationals had previously been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by the Biden administration. That designation is set to expire on May 3.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked parole status for immigrants who entered the U.S. through the now-defunct CBP One app, putting more than 900,000 people at risk of deportation.
“Under federal law, Secretary Kristi Noem — in support of the president — has full authority to revoke parole,” a DHS spokesperson told Politico, referring to undocumented immigrants as “aliens.”
“Formal termination notices have been issued, and affected aliens are urged to voluntarily self-deport using the CBP Home app. Those who refuse will be found, removed and permanently barred from reentry.”
The CBP One app was later rebranded and relaunched as CBP Home, designed to allow immigrants to report their intent to leave the country. A Reuters investigation found the administration planned to fine deportable immigrants more than $988 per day if they failed to exit the U.S., with the risk of property seizure.
“If they don’t, they will face the consequences,” said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
“This includes a fine of $988 per day for every day that the illegal alien overstayed their final deportation order.”
The fines stem from a 1996 law that imposes civil penalties on individuals who ignore deportation orders. The law was previously enforced during Trump’s first term.
In a controversial move, the DHS also announced it would begin monitoring immigrants’ social media for alleged antisemitic content. This came after the arrests of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and permanent U.S. resident at Columbia University, and Rumeysa Ozturk, an international student at Tufts University. Both have been accused of antisemitism for their activism regarding Palestine, though no evidence has been provided.
“There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,” said McLaughlin in a statement.
“Sec. Noem has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism — think again. You are not welcome here.”
The policy was condemned by both Muslim and Jewish advocacy groups. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, national deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), described it as a “new era of McCarthyism,” referencing the 1950s persecution of communist and left-wing voices during the Red Scare.
“The spirit of Joseph McCarthy is alive and well in the Trump administration,” Mitchell told NPR.
“They have spent months mischaracterizing criticism of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza as antisemitic, launching witch hunts into colleges, and threatening immigrants’ free speech rights.”
J Street, a pro-Israel group, also criticized the policy as unconstitutional.
“The fight against antisemitism won’t be advanced by attacks on cherished American rights like free speech,” said President Jeremy Ben-Ami.
“The Trump administration’s own appointees have social media accounts riddled with antisemitism, showing how insincere they are in claiming their authoritarian crackdown on education and immigration will protect Jewish Americans.”
In a separate development, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agreed to share undocumented immigrants’ tax information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The decision renewed controversy following previous reports from The Introspective about DHS requesting IRS data on nearly 700,000 undocumented individuals.
In a statement obtained by NBC News, McLaughlin defended the move, saying such data sharing is “essential” — despite existing laws that prohibit the IRS from disclosing personal tax information.
“Information sharing across agencies is essential to identify who is in our country, including violent criminals, determine what public safety and terror threats may exist so we can neutralize them, scrub these individuals from voter rolls, and identify what public benefits these aliens are using at the American taxpayer’s expense,” she said.
Experts at the New York University Tax Law Center criticized the agreement, warning it could violate Americans’ privacy rights.
“It is difficult to see how the IRS could release information to DHS while complying with taxpayer privacy statutes,” wrote authors Dahila Mignouna, Brandon DeBot and Chye-Ching Huang.
“IRS officials who sign off on data sharing under these circumstances risk breaking the law, which could result in criminal and civil sanctions.”
IRS Acting Commissioner Melanie Krause announced her resignation following the decision. She is set to step down by April 28.
“Melanie Krause has been leading the IRS through a time of extraordinary change,” a spokesperson from the Department of the Treasury, which oversees the IRS, told ABC News.
“As we modernize our IT and reorganize to better serve taxpayers, we are also breaking down data silos that have long obstructed efforts to address fraud and criminal activity.”
Separately, the National Weather Service (NWS) announced it would pause storm and disaster alerts for non-English speakers. The move sparked backlash, as more than 68 million U.S. residents speak a language other than English, including 42 million who speak Spanish.
Trade War Chaos Continues
As President Trump’s trade war escalates, tariffs—taxes on imports—against China have surged to 125%, following an earlier 20% increase imposed by the administration over alleged fentanyl trafficking. By Thursday, the tariffs had risen again to 145%.
“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the world’s markets, I am hereby raising the tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.
“At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A. and other countries are no longer sustainable or acceptable.”
Trump later announced a pause on most “reciprocal” tariffs imposed on other countries, excluding China. A 10% tariff will remain on imports from most nations, while Canada and Mexico will continue to face a 25% tariff due to alleged fentanyl smuggling.
“I have authorized a 90-day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately,” he wrote.
In a report by the Associated Press, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the next 90 days would be used for negotiations with allied countries. He denied that the pause was in response to the recent stock market crash—an assertion contradicted by Trump’s previous comments.
“The only certainty we can provide is that the U.S. is going to negotiate in good faith, and we assume that our allies will too,” said Bessent, adding that President Trump “goaded China into a bad position.”
The stock market initially responded positively to the announcement. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index (S&P 500) rose 9.5%—its best single-day performance since October 2008. However, stocks declined again Thursday morning, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling more than 1,700 points, a drop of over 4%.
In retaliation, China announced new tariffs of 84% on U.S. imports, which have already taken effect.
Federal Agencies and Press Freedom
As President Trump’s initiative to downsize the federal government continues, the Supreme Court has allowed the administration to proceed with the mass layoff of more than 16,000 probationary federal employees. Affected agencies include the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of the Interior (DOI), and the Department of the Treasury (USDT).
This decision follows a previous Introspective report on a Maryland judge’s order to reinstate the employees after a lawsuit was filed by unions and nonprofit groups. However, in a 7–2 ruling obtained by The Washington Post, the Supreme Court ruled the lower court's injunction was “improper,” citing a lack of legal standing by the nonprofit groups. Allegations raised by unions were not addressed in the majority opinion.
“The District Court’s injunction was based solely on the allegations of the nine nonprofit-organization plaintiffs in this case. But under established law, those allegations are presently insufficient to support the organizations’ standing,” the majority wrote.
In a joint statement, the unions called the decision “disappointing,” but emphasized that the fight is “far from over.”
“Despite this setback, our coalition remains unwavering in fighting for these workers who were wronged by the administration, and in protecting the freedoms of the American people. This battle is far from over,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, following earlier reports that the Associated Press, HuffPost, and German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel had been barred from White House press events, a federal judge ordered the ban to be repealed, citing violations of the First Amendment.
“The government repeatedly characterizes the A.P.’s request as a demand for ‘extra special access.’ But that is not what the A.P. is asking for, and it is not what the court orders,” wrote Judge Trevor N. McFadden.
“Under the First Amendment, if the government opens its doors to some journalists — be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere — it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints.”
It remains unclear whether the White House will comply with the ruling. Shortly after the decision, an Associated Press reporter and photographer were denied access to a White House event hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee.