Trump 2nd term updates: Trump says USAID is run by 'radical lunatics'

A top Trump administration official sent a memo to the Justice Department workforce ordering criminal investigations into any state and local actors who may attempt to obstruct enforcement of federal immigration laws, according to a copy obtained by ABC News.

The memo further details a series of policy changes being rolled out in the department as a result of multiple executive orders signed by Trump, including the establishment of a "Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group."

As ABC News reported, multiple longtime senior level officials in DOJ's Criminal and National Security Divisions were given an abrupt notice of their reassignment to the task force.

The move has already caused alarm among many current and former officials in the department who see it as an exodus of the department's career "braintrust" on major national security and public corruption cases and a sign the Trump team is placing loyalty to the president's agenda above the typical norms and expertise of officials.

-ABC News' Alexander Mallin

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is updating their terminology as a result of the election.

From now on, those they are arresting will be referred to as "alien" as opposed to "noncitizen" and those in the country without authorization will be referred to as "illegal alien" according to an internal ICE memo obtained by ABC News.

"ICE employees are directed to use the lexicon consistent with the immigration and nationality act and the language historically used by the agency," according to the memo.

The Biden administration changed the language in 2021 when former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas issued terminology guidance. Trump's used increasingly dark rhetoric on the campaign trail when talking about migrants, including calling some of them "animals."

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Refugee arrivals to the United States are "suspended until further notice," as a result of the president's executive order, a State Department memo obtained by ABC News says.

"All previously scheduled travel of refugees to the United States is being cancelled, and no new travel bookings will be made. RSCs [Resettlement Support Centers] should not request travel for any additional refugee cases at this time," according to the memo sent on Tuesday. "Additionally, all refugee case processing and pre-departure activities are also suspended."

A source familiar with the data says approximately 10,000 refugees had travel booked.

Refugee processing is also canceled.

– ABC's Luke Barr

Thirteen Senate Democrats sent a letter to Majority Leader John Thune committing to working with Republicans in "good faith" toward providing the necessary 60 votes in the Senate to pass certain immigration measures.

"As we have shown, Democrats and Republicans can work together on real bipartisan solutions. We can solve big challenges when we work together, and there is much work to do to improve border security, protect Dreamers and farmworkers, and fix our immigration system to better reflect the needs of our country and our modern economy," the Democrats wrote.

The group of Democrats say common ground can be reached on "fair immigration enforcement accompanied by the necessary resources to effectively secure our border". They also say they see a need for a "firm but fair immigration system."

A bipartisan border bill was negotiated and unveiled during the 2024 campaign, but was effectively killed by Trump, who urged Republicans not to support it.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin