Trump admin updates: White House asks court to stay order to ground deportation flights

Video shows deportees in El Salvador after a judge ordered flights to stop.

Last Updated: March 16, 2025, 5:36 PM EDT

The White House has asked a federal circuit court to stay a district court's temporary restraining orderthat blocked President Donald Trump from using the Alien Enemies act to deport noncitizens, including alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Meanwhile, the fallout over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats voting with Republicans to avert a government shutdown continued, with some in Schumer's party calling for new leadership while others defended him, but said the party needed to use new tactics and new messaging.

And Trump signed an executive order on Saturday that rescinded 19 executive actions issued by former President Joe Biden's administration on gender, labor policies and industry regulations, bringing the number of Biden's actions reversed by Trump to nearly 100.

Mar 14, 2025, 1:35 PM EDT

11 arrested outside Schumer's office as activists, parents urge Congress to reject continuing resolution

Activists, parents and D.C. lawmakers launched an all-out blitz on Capitol Hill Friday, culminating in the arrest of 11 people outside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office, Capitol Police confirmed to ABC News. The demonstration was organized by the Sunrise Movement, which called for action in response to Schumer's support of the Trump-Johnson budget.

Sunrise said its protest was following the Senate leader’s announcement Thursday that he's supporting the funding bill. "Schumer staff locked the office doors and young people sat-in outside the office demanding he face the people that his actions will affect for years to come," Sunrise said in a statement.

“This is bigger than politics. It’s about protecting our communities, our democracy, and our planet from corruption and corporate greed. Schumer must fight back—now,” Sunrise Movement Executive Director Aru Shiney Ajay said in a statement.

PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, March 11, 2025.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks with reporters as Republicans work to pass an interim spending bill that would avoid a partial government shutdown and keep federal agencies funded through September, at the Capitol in Washington, March 11, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Capitol Police told ABC News, “At about 9:50 a.m., 11 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating in the Hart Senate Office Building. ... It is against the law to protest inside the Congressional Buildings.”

--ABC News' Arthur Jones

Mar 14, 2025, 12:31 PM EDT

Pelosi slams GOP funding bill: 'Democrats must not buy into this false choice'

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who appears to be distancing herself from Leader Chuck Schumer's decision, slams Democrats who support the House GOP bill.

"America has experienced a Trump shutdown before – but this damaging legislation only makes matters worse. Democrats must not buy into this false choice. We must fight back for a better way. Listen to the women, For The People," Pelosi said.

Pelosi applauded House Democrats for their near-unanimous vote against the measure.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi listens as President Donald Trump speaks during an address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, Mar. 4, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

"I salute Leader Hakeem Jeffries for his courageous rejection of this false choice, and I am proud of my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus for their overwhelming vote against this bill," she said.

--ABC News' Lauren Peller

Mar 14, 2025, 11:44 AM EDT

Dept of Education launches probe into universities over alleged 'race-exclusionary' discrimination

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened investigations into 45 universities over alleged "race-exclusionary" discrimination.

The office claimed the universities, which included NYU, MIT and Rutgers, used "racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities" by partnering with the non-profit The Ph.D Program, which has helped underprivileged students obtain postgraduate degrees.

An exterior view of the Department of Education building on Mar. 13, 2025 in Washington.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

"Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.

Numerous studies, including a 2023 study from RTI, have shown that Black and Hispanic students face major disparities when it comes to earning a Ph.D compared with white students.

Mar 14, 2025, 11:37 AM EDT

Americans largely disapprove of Trump’s handling of Russia-Ukraine war, poll says

A small majority of Americans disapprove of how President Donald Trump is handling the Russia-Ukraine war and the United States’ relationship with Russia, a recent CNN/SSRS poll found.

Asked if Trump’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine war is good or bad, or makes no difference to the U.S, 29% said his approach was good for the U.S., 50% said bad and 20% said it makes no difference.

It also said that a majority of Americans feel his approach is unlikely to bring peace between the two countries.

Asked if the U.S. is doing enough, too much, or too little to help Ukraine in the war, 32% of poll respondents said too much, 38% said too little and 30% said the right amount.

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House, Mar. 13, 2025 in Washington.
Yuri Gripas/Pool/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

However, Americans are relatively split over whether they feel favorable towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with around 1 in 5 saying they have no opinion about him.

--ABC News Oren Oppenheim

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