The Introspective

Week 21 of Trump’s second term sees growing ICE backlash, rising international criticism over immigration policy, a major vaccine advisory shakeup, and political fallout from recent protests.

Dante Belcher

Jun 13, 2025

Trump’s 21st week in office has brought growing fallout from immigration enforcement, along with developments in health policy, legal actions, military decisions, and the ongoing trade war. Following a previous Introspective report highlighting unrest in California over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, the city of Glendale, California, terminated its contract with ICE—becoming one of the first major cities to do so amid intensifying nationwide tensions. At the same time, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deployed the National Guard across the state in anticipation of further protests, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the United States for its immigration policies and condemned the violence of the Los Angeles protests, even as she defended Mexican migrants as essential workers.

In health policy, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine advisory panel, raising concerns as viruses such as bird flu and measles continue to spread. That same day, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed ending LGBTQ-specific crisis counseling via the 988 suicide hotline—potentially impacting more than 1.3 million people who have used the service.

Meanwhile, following an earlier Introspective report detailing New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver facing charges after the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, McIver has now been indicted on three federal charges. Simultaneously, the Department of Justice (DOJ) fired two employees involved in investigations into President Trump’s role in the 2020 election, offering no public explanation. The United States and China later reached an agreement on trade after two days of negotiations in London.

Growing Fallout from Los Angeles Unrest

As tensions over anti-immigrant sentiment continue to rise, Glendale, California, ended its agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain individuals in local facilities.

“This is a local decision and was not made lightly,” the city said in a press release, adding that the decision was based on public safety concerns, not politics.

“Nevertheless, despite the transparency and safeguards the city has upheld, the city recognizes that public perception of the ICE contract—no matter how limited or carefully managed, no matter the good—has become divisive.”

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized the decision and said ICE will continue to enforce the law.

“It is deeply disturbing that sanctuary politicians in Glendale, California, would terminate an agreement to hold ICE detainees and violent criminals—which the city has had with DHS for more than 15 years—just as violent rioters are looting and defacing Los Angeles and assaulting federal law enforcement,” the agency said.

“Glendale’s politicians stand with criminal illegal aliens, including gang members, rapists, and murderers, over American citizens.”

As protests against ICE continue to spread nationwide, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deployed the National Guard across the state, claiming the move is necessary to “ensure peace and order.”

“Peaceful protests are part of the fabric of our nation, but Texas will not tolerate the lawlessness we have seen in Los Angeles,” Abbott’s office said in a statement to ABC News.

“Anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be swiftly held accountable to the full extent of the law.”

Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the United States for its immigration policies, calling for due process in immigration cases.

“In this sense, we make a respectful but firm call to United States authorities for all immigration procedures to be carried out with adherence to due process, within a framework of respect for human dignity and the rule of law,” Sheinbaum said.

She also denounced the rioting and looting, calling on Mexican Americans to “not allow itself to be provoked.”

“We do not agree with violent actions as a form of protest,” she said.

“Burning police cars appears to be more an act of provocation than of resistance. We condemn violence, no matter where it comes from.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized Sheinbaum’s statements on Tuesday, accusing the Mexican president of “encouraging violent protests,” despite Sheinbaum’s condemnation of violence.

“Claudia Sheinbaum came out and encouraged more protests in L.A., and I condemn her for that. She should not be encouraging violent protests that are going on,” Noem said.

“People are allowed to peacefully protest, but the violence that we’re seeing is not acceptable, and it’s not going to happen in America.”

Sheinbaum later responded to Noem’s claim in a post on X, stating that she has “always been against” violent demonstrations.

“On the other hand, our position is and will continue to be the defense of honest, hardworking Mexicans who support the United States economy and their families in Mexico,” Sheinbaum wrote.

CDC, 988 Hotline, and Legal Actions

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has removed all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a vaccine advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raising concerns as viruses such as bird flu and measles continue to spread.

“A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science,” Kennedy wrote in an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, claiming the panel was “plagued with persistent conflicts of interest and has become little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine.”

In response, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) released a statement expressing that they were “deeply disturbed” by the decision.

“Erosion in vaccine science can be traced to misinformation spread on social media, which has been repeatedly disproved. NAPNAP believes the secretary’s decision to terminate the volunteer service of current ACIP members with the stated goal of restoring public trust will only increase vaccine misinformation,” the group said.

“Vaccines are safe and effective, have undergone a thorough review and recommendation process, and are carefully surveilled using multiple safety surveillance processes to detect if changes are needed.”

At the same time, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed ending 988 suicide hotline services specifically for LGBTQ youth in its new budget proposal—potentially impacting the more than 1.3 million people who have used the service.

In a statement to NBC News, Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth, criticized the proposal and accused HHS of “discrediting” the hotline.

“Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle—and our president—came together during the first Trump administration to create this specialized resource,” Black said.

“It’s a shared acknowledgment that every young life is worth saving, and that risk, not identity, drives evidence-based and effective crisis intervention. We strongly urge the administration and Congress to rethink this proposal and do what is best for ending the public health crisis of suicide among our nation’s youth.”

Meanwhile, following prior reporting from The Introspective detailing the fallout after the arrest of Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka at an ICE facility, Rep. LaMonica McIver has been indicted on three federal charges, including “assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering” with federal officers.

“McIver forcibly impeded and interfered with federal officers as they attempted to arrest an individual outside the Delaney Hall Federal Immigration Facility in Newark, New Jersey, on May 9,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release.

In a post on X, Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba stated that her office will pursue the case to “a just end.”

“As I have stated in the past, it is my constitutional obligation as the chief federal law enforcement officer for New Jersey to ensure that our federal partners are protected when executing their duties,” Habba said.

“While people are free to express their views for or against particular policies, they must not do so in a manner that endangers law enforcement and the communities those officers serve.”

McIver acknowledged the indictment in a statement, calling the charges “baseless” and a “brazen attempt” at political intimidation.

“The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job,” McIver said, adding that she will plead not guilty.

“The facts are on our side. I will be entering a plea of not guilty. I’m grateful for the support of my community, and I look forward to my day in court.”

That same day, the Department of Justice fired two employees who had worked on investigations related to President Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. According to a Reuters report, the employees were part of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team that prosecuted individuals involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

Trade War Update

As the trade war between the United States and China continues to unfold, the two countries reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday, stating that both sides will loosen restrictions on exports. The United States also agreed to reverse prior threats to cancel visas for Chinese students studying in the country.

“Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China,” President Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding that the U.S. would secure “a total of 55% tariffs,” while China’s tariffs would stand at 10%.

“Likewise, we will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities (which has always been good with me!),” Trump added.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick described the deal as a “handshake for a framework,” telling ABC News that both President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would still need to formally approve the terms.

“Once that’s done, we will be back on the phone together and we will begin to implement this agreement,” Lutnick said.

“The two largest economies in the world have reached a handshake for framework.”