Trump Administration Faces Scrutiny Over Human Rights, Immigration Policies
The Trump administration faced criticism and legal challenges regarding its human rights record and immigration policies in early 2026. A report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleged a "shift toward authoritarianism" in the United States during President Trump's second term, while a federal court ruling provided temporary relief for Haitian immigrants facing deportation.
According to HRW's World Report 2026, the past year saw "a blatant disregard for human rights and egregious violations" in the U.S. The report singled out immigration, health, the environment, labor, disability, gender, criminal justice, and freedom of speech as areas where the administration had taken "significant steps backward," according to Time.
Immigration policies were a particular point of contention. A federal court ruled that deportation protections for Haitian immigrants would remain in place, according to Vox. This decision came amidst ongoing debate over Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, with advocates calling for extensions.
The administration's immigration crackdown also became a central issue during a brief government shutdown. President Trump signed a funding package to reopen the government after a four-day partial shutdown, according to Time. The measure gave lawmakers until the following Friday to negotiate new funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and potentially new restrictions after the fatal shooting of two civilians by federal immigration agents last month in Minneapolis.
Trump described the funding package as "a great victory for the American people," stating that it "actually cuts wasteful federal spending while supporting critical programs for the safety."
In other news, President Trump announced a potential trade deal with India that would lower tariffs to 18%, according to NPR.
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