Day 361

Secret Cameroon Deportation Agreement and Torture of Deportees

Under a secret agreement, the US deported 17 people from 9 African countries to Cameroon in January-February 2026, including asylum seekers and a stateless person. Cameroonian authorities immediately detained the deportees with no legal basis, and 15 remained detained in Yaoundé as of February 20. Journalists and a lawyer who went to the detention compound were arrested. Human Rights Watch says Cameroon is unsafe for deportations because of its record of torture in detention, and that the US violated international law by sending people there.

Democracy Defenders Fund discovers secret re-redaction

The Democracy Defenders Fund identifies that over 70 previously released Epstein files have been secretly pulled from the DOJ database and reposted with additional or modified redactions, with no public notice, explanation, or audit trail.

From: Epstein Files: DOJ Withholds Evidence, UN Experts Warn of Crimes Against Humanity

Lawyers identify 'Somali rocket docket'

Immigration lawyers representing Somali clients begin reporting that cases with no future hearing, or with hearings scheduled years away, are suddenly being rescheduled for hearings in February and March 2026. The pattern is identified as an unofficial 'Somali rocket docket.'

From: Immigration Rocket Dockets: Mass Fast-Tracked Hearings and In Absentia Removal Orders

Trump threatens Insurrection Act

Trump posts on Truth Social threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act against Minnesota protesters, calling them 'insurrectionists.' 3,000 ICE agents are deployed in 'Operation Metro Surge.'

From: Federal Protest Crackdowns: ICE Killing of Renee Good, Insurrection Act Threats, and Criminalization of Dissent

Third Circuit requires exhaustion

In a 2-1 decision the Third Circuit vacated the district court's judgment, ruling that Khalil must move through the immigration-court system before challenging his deportation in federal court. It did not rule on the constitutionality of the deportation.

From: Deportation Proceedings Against Mahmoud Khalil for Pro-Palestine Protest Activity

UN expert demands withdrawal of sanctions

The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers demanded the withdrawal of sanctions against ICC judges, calling them an unprecedented attack on international judicial independence.

From: Executive Order Sanctioning International Criminal Court Officials

Withdrawal from UNFCCC, IPCC, and 64 other organizations announced

The administration announces withdrawal from the UNFCCC, IPCC, and 64 other international organizations — removing the US from the entire foundational architecture of international climate governance. The National Security Archive calls this a break with bipartisan consensus dating to 1992.

From: Systematic Destruction of Environmental Protections — Paris Agreement, UNFCCC, and Endangerment Finding