Activists across the United States have issued a powerful call for a nationwide shutdown this Friday, urging citizens to participate in a "no work, no school, no shopping" protest. This collective action is a direct response to the Trump administration's sweeping immigration crackdowns, which have sparked widespread concern and outrage.
A Growing Movement Against ICE Enforcement
Organisers describe Friday's event as a "blackout" or general strike, positioning it as a crucial part of an expanding non-violent movement. The primary aim is to combat the aggressive enforcement tactics employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These tactics have come under intense renewed scrutiny following a series of fatal shootings involving federal agents, raising serious questions about accountability and procedure.
Voices from the Front Lines
"We are calling for this strike because we believe what we have been doing in Minnesota should go national," explained Kidus Yeshidagna, president of the Ethiopian Students Union at the University of Minnesota and one of the student organisers behind the movement. He emphasised the need for broader awareness and action, stating, "We need more people and lawmakers across the country to wake up to what is happening."
Political Developments in Washington
In a separate but significant political development, Democrats and the White House have reached a crucial agreement to avert a looming government shutdown. The office of Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer confirmed the deal to the Guardian on Thursday. The agreement involves advancing a package of spending bills while strategically separating the Department of Homeland Security spending bill from the main package.
This temporary measure will fund the DHS at current levels for a two-week period. During this time, Democrats intend to continue negotiations aimed at establishing further guardrails on immigration agents. These negotiations are particularly urgent in light of the recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis, which have intensified calls for reform and oversight.
Legal and Executive Actions
In a notable legal move, former President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the US Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, seeking damages of $10 billion (approximately £7.9 billion). The lawsuit, reported by Bloomberg News on Thursday evening, centres on an alleged unauthorised disclosure of his tax returns during his first term. This action places Trump in the unusual position of suing government agencies that are part of the executive branch he once led, highlighting ongoing controversies surrounding his financial transparency.
Meanwhile, Trump's "border czar," Tom Homan, held a news conference in Minneapolis. While acknowledging that "no agency is perfect" and that "certain improvements could and should be made" in immigration enforcement operations, Homan notably did not address the recent fatal shootings of US citizens by immigration agents in the area. He also declined to comment on newly published video footage from earlier this month, which appears to show officers grappling with protester Alex Pretti during intense demonstrations. "We'll let the investigation play out and let it go where it goes," Homan stated, deferring to ongoing inquiries.
Expanding Economic Pressure
On the international front, President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that lays the groundwork for imposing tariffs on goods from countries that provide oil to Cuba. The White House announced that this order, which declares a national emergency, establishes a formal process for the US secretaries of state and commerce to assess and implement tariffs against nations involved in selling or supplying oil to the island. This move ratchets up economic pressure as part of Trump's broader strategy to challenge the Communist government in Cuba, though specific tariff rates for violating this new policy have not yet been specified by the administration.
