Trump immigration crackdown ensnares families of US troops

The Trump administration has reportedly refunded approximately $100 billion in tariffs following a Supreme Court decision in February 2026 that deemed many of President Trump's global duties unlawful. This amount represents about 60% of the $166 billion initially collected under tariffs imposed using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The refunds are being disbursed to importers who paid these duties, although a coalition of states has initiated legal action to challenge new tariffs subsequently levied by the administration.

Concurrently, an Associated Press investigation has uncovered an intensified immigration crackdown affecting military families under the current Trump administration. The report indicates that over 50 parents and spouses of active-duty U.S. service members have been detained since President Trump began his second term, with at least six having been deported and eight remaining in federal custody.

This marks a significant departure from decades of established policy that generally offered protection to military families from deportation, a reversal underscored by an April 2025 policy asserting that military service does not inherently grant exemption from immigration laws. Critics and experts warn that these enforcement actions could negatively impact military readiness and personnel.