Global Security Situation Brief

Iran

• According to the U.S.-based "Activist News Agency," as of early this morning, the nationwide protests in Iran, which have lasted for more than two weeks, have resulted in at least deaths. The agency added that among the deceased, were protesters, while were linked to the government—including children and civilians who were not involved in the demonstrations—and estimated that over people have been detained. (Associated Press)
• According to The New York Times, two Iranian government officials recently stated that internal data indicated the death toll was approximately [number of] people, possibly even higher. A senior official from the Ministry of Health claimed that "around [number of]" people had died nationwide, including "hundreds of security personnel," and attempted to shift the blame to so-called "terrorists" allegedly inciting unrest. Another government official mentioned seeing an internal report that cited "at least [number of]" deaths, adding that the death toll might continue to rise.
• According to reports, White House envoy Steve Witkoff secretly met with Iran's exiled former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi over the weekend to discuss the protests in Iran. It was also reported that the White House National Security Council held a meeting yesterday morning to discuss response measures—President Trump did not attend—and a U.S. official revealed that Israel submitted an assessment to the United States estimating that at least protesters have been killed.
• According to The New York Times, during Iran's near-total communications blackout, reports from outside described authorities' "shoot-to-kill" crackdown on protests. Witnesses and hospital staff described security forces firing shots, sometimes "indiscriminately," with snipers positioned on rooftops; emergency rooms "admitted dozens of gunshot victims in an hour," and there were "mass casualties" on the scene. Despite the blackout, videos and broadcasts showed "rows of body bags." One protester told The New York Times, "The regime is on a killing spree."
• Yesterday, Trump intensified his public incitement of protests among the Iranian people, urging protesters to "keep protesting" and "take over your institutions!!!" while promising that "aid is coming." On the website, Trump also stated that he had "canceled all meetings with Iranian officials" until the Iranian regime ceases its crackdown. He further told demonstrators to "remember the names of the murderers and abusers" and warned that they "will pay a heavy price." (Reuters)
• Trump stated that he is discussing next steps with his national security team while seeking confirmation on how many Iranians were killed or detained, and urging Tehran to show humanitarianism toward protesters. He said the killings appeared to be "quite significant," and the U.S. would "act accordingly," adding that the Iranian government had acted "very badly." Trump noted that he had not yet received a precise death toll and mentioned he had heard "five different numbers." (AP)
• Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, sent a letter to UN officials formally condemning Trump's latest remarks, describing them as "interventionist statements." Iravani stated that these remarks amount to a direct call for destabilization, incitement to violence, and a threat to Iran's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security. (AP)
• According to the U.S.-based organization "Total Resilience" ( ), which helps Iranian citizens access the internet, users in Iran were able to use Elon Musk’s Starlink ( ) satellite internet service for free yesterday. The organization’s executive director, Ahmad Ahmadian ( ), stated that Starlink’s parent company waived user fees amid Iran’s near-total communication blackout and ongoing large-scale protests. (The New York Times)

U.S. Caribbean and Pacific Operations

• A 15-page memorandum from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) indicates that President Trump had the authority to deploy U.S. troops into Venezuela to assist in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro without congressional authorization. The memorandum, written by Director Elliot G. M. G. and dated March 19, approximately 10 days before the operation began, was submitted to members of Congress yesterday. The unclassified version of the memorandum describes the operation as "kidnapping Maduro" and argues that the President could act unilaterally if the deployment served national interests and its anticipated nature, scale, and duration did not constitute a "constitutional war," even if the operation involved "ground troops" and expected combat. The memorandum further contends that even if the operation "violated international law," it would not "diminish" the President’s domestic authority under "long-standing precedent," citing previous views that the President could override the U.N. Charter based on domestic law. To support the legality of U.S. military assistance in overseas arrests for the FBI, the report cites precedents including the 1998 African embassy bombings and the 2012 Benghazi attack, and references a 1989 opinion by William Barr at the Office of Legal Counsel, which asserted the U.S. possesses "inherent constitutional authority" to arrest suspects abroad and considers the only applicable constraints to be domestic laws, such as the Constitution and the War Powers Act. (The New York Times)

Israel-Hamas war

• U.S. officials stated that the Trump administration will announce today that its Gaza plan has entered "Phase Two" and will appoint an interim Palestinian committee to oversee the daily administration of the Gaza Strip. It is expected that the U.S. will appoint a group of Palestinian technocrats to form the Gaza National Administrative Committee (), responsible for managing basic public services, while appointing former U.N. envoy Nickolay Mladenov as the "Senior Representative" to supervise the implementation of the plan through a "Peace Commission" chaired by Trump. The membership list of this commission has not yet been disclosed. Some regional officials remain skeptical, as Hamas has not clarified whether and how it will disarm in accordance with the ceasefire terms. (The Wall Street Journal)

American relations

• Recently, at least six senior prosecutors from the Criminal Section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division have left their positions, causing internal turmoil within the division. Reuters reported that some sources linked these departures to dissatisfaction with the division's leadership direction during the Trump era, as well as the decision by Civil Rights Division Chief Hamit Dilan to exclude the division from the investigation into the shooting involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota. However, the Justice Department stated that these lawyers had submitted their resignations and applied for early retirement plans long before the shooting occurred. Other reports also indicated that the departures were not directly caused by the case. Reuters reported that Dilan informed the division last week that they would not be involved in the Minnesota investigation. (The Washington Post)
• Yesterday, six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned, including the second-in-command of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This came after their relationship with the leadership of the Department of Justice grew increasingly strained over the investigation into the shooting at the Minneapolis Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. The New York Times reported that their resignations were prompted by pressure from the Department of Justice to investigate the victim’s widow, as well as an unwillingness to investigate the shooter or the legality of the use of force, including refusing to involve state government officials in the investigation. CNN noted that the departure of some prosecutors also stemmed from being asked to investigate other cases related to protest activities. CBS News added that sources were frustrated that the case was being treated as an assault on a police officer rather than a civil rights investigation. (The New York Times)
• The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a notice confirming that, in accordance with the policy of the Trump administration, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals will be terminated on [specific date], citing improvements in the situation in Somalia. The program is designed to protect immigrants who cannot safely return to their home countries and currently covers [number] Somali nationals, with an additional [number] applications under review. (The New York Times)
• According to lawyers and activists, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Minnesota recently arrested dozens of Somali refugees (possibly more than 100 people), including children, and sent many to detention centers in Texas. Previously, the Trump administration stated that it would "re-examine thousands of refugee cases" through new background checks and took action this week to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals. (The New York Times)
• According to a report by CNN, last Friday, approximately U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents began deploying to Minneapolis, with the deployment expected to continue through the weekend. Prior to this, the area already had around Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and agents. Commander Gregory Bovino stated that, under "Operation Metro Surge," hundreds of federal agents are being deployed to Minneapolis and warned that undocumented immigrants, especially those with criminal records, "should be very afraid." CNN also reported that Bovino had already led hundreds of agents in conducting targeted operations in the area last week, including going door-to-door. CBS News reported that, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, agents have been deployed locally in Minneapolis, with the official describing it as "the largest operation in DHS history."
• According to The New York Times, secret testimony records provided to a special grand jury in Atlanta in 2022 show that several senior Republicans privately dismissed President Trump’s claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election during the Georgia election interference investigation. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called these claims "disturbing"; Governor Brian Kemp described Trump’s efforts to persuade Georgia lawmakers to intervene in the election as "a futile exercise"; and former Georgia House Speaker David Ralston referred to the fake elector scheme as "the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard." The New York Times obtained these testimony records this week after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee last week rescinded an order originally set to take effect in January 2023, which had restricted the disclosure of most investigation materials.
• Republicans on the House Oversight Committee stated that they will initiate contempt proceedings against former President Bill Clinton next week for failing to comply with a subpoena to testify before the committee's investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case. They warned that they may take similar action against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton if she fails to appear for her scheduled testimony today. In an eight-page letter, the Clintons' attorney argued that the subpoenas are "invalid and legally unenforceable," that they have provided sworn affidavits instead of in-person testimony, denied possessing relevant information, and accused Chairman James Comer of advancing a politically motivated process "aimed at imprisoning us." ()
• The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and its two studios informed a federal judge in the Miami Division of the Southern District of Florida that they would file a motion by the [date] to dismiss President Trump's $1 billion defamation lawsuit and requested the court to stay discovery, allowing only limited jurisdictional discovery. In court documents filed on Monday, they argued that Florida lacks personal jurisdiction over the case because the program was not created, produced, or broadcast in Florida. They also contended that Trump's complaint failed to state a valid defamation claim or a cause of action under Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Additionally, they argued that Trump could not prove identifiable damages, given his successful re-election after the program aired, including a significant victory in Florida. The BBC warned that discovery would be overly broad and burdensome and could raise complex issues related to the First Amendment and cross-border matters.
• A state court in Virginia yesterday dismissed an emergency application filed by Republican lawmakers seeking to block a proposed constitutional amendment. The amendment could potentially allow Democratic lawmakers to redraw Virginia's congressional districts as part of efforts to counter Republican gerrymandering. The Tazewell County Circuit Court rejected the request for a temporary restraining order, stating that the court cannot intervene during the legislative process of a constitutional amendment and may only review the matter after the legislature has completed the relevant procedures.
• The Supreme Court held oral arguments yesterday regarding bans in Idaho and West Virginia that prohibit transgender girls from participating on girls’ school sports teams. These two cases could impact approximately states with similar laws. The justices focused not only on the substantive issues of the cases—such as how to define sex, what level of constitutional scrutiny to apply, and whether these bans constitute unlawful discrimination—but also on preliminary questions, including whether the Idaho case might be moot due to a lack of ongoing controversy after the plaintiff, Lindsay Hecox, attempted to withdraw her lawsuit and cease participation. This raised concerns about compelling an "unwilling plaintiff" to continue in a politically charged lawsuit. Conservative justices appeared inclined to uphold the bans, though several justices also expressed interest in issuing narrower rulings that would leave room for states that maintain inclusive transgender sports policies.
• Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated yesterday that Greenland would rather remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark than join the United States. This comes just one day before government officials from the U.S. and Denmark are scheduled to meet at the White House today. Nielsen dismissed President Trump’s claim that he would seek to annex Greenland “whether it wants to or not,” and said that if Greenland had to choose between the U.S. and Denmark “now,” it would choose Denmark—along with NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the EU. (The New York Times)

Actions of the Trump administration

• According to informed sources, President Trump criticized a group of U.S. attorneys during a photo opportunity at the White House on Thursday, calling them "weak and incompetent" and complaining that they were slow to act and failed to prosecute suspects he supported in a timely manner. Last week, dozens of U.S. attorneys responsible for prosecutor offices across the country went to the White House, expecting only a routine ceremonial photo opportunity. After Attorney General Pam Bondi introduced the group of prosecutors, Trump told them that their work efficiency was low and that their performance made the jobs of Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Branch more difficult, the sources said. (The Wall Street Journal)
• Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin ( ) said on Monday that federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., are investigating her for her role in helping produce a video urging military personnel to resist illegal orders. Slotkin stated that she learned of the matter after the office of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Channing Phillips ( ), emailed the Senate Sergeant at Arms requesting a meeting with Slotkin or her private attorney. Phillips's office declined to confirm or deny any investigation, and it remains unclear what specific criminal activity officials believe the video involves. (The New York Times)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. yesterday appointed two obstetrician-gynecologists to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, both of whom have been vocal critics of vaccination, including during pregnancy. The two new appointees are Kimberly Biss and Adam Urato. The Washington Post reported that a review of their past interviews, podcasts, and social media content revealed that their criticism "goes far beyond" opposition during the pandemic. In a podcast episode in January 2021, Biss stated, "I wasn’t an anti-vaxxer before, but I am now." She later called the vaccine industry "disgusting" and added, "If I have anything to do with it, my grandchildren will never get a single vaccine." (The Washington Post)
• James "Jim" Joseph Ruden, an Assistant Chief Counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has returned to work at the Dallas Immigration Court after being identified by The Texas Observer as the operator of a "Stormer" account that posted white supremacist and other hateful content. Following the Observer's initial report, Ruden was apparently removed from the federal immigration court's schedule. The Office of Professional Responsibility stated that it "understands the seriousness of these allegations" and would address the matter, but has not provided any further public updates since. After receiving a tip yesterday, the Observer visited the Dallas Immigration Court and reported that Ruden was seated at the prosecutor's table in Judge Dietrich Sims' courtroom. (The Texas Observer)

Trump Administration Lawsuit

• Today, the federal court will hear Oregon's motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice. The lawsuit seeks to obtain Oregon's statewide voter registration data, with Oregon arguing that the DOJ's complaint fails to state a substantial claim. Previously, Oregon refused to provide an unredacted statewide voter file, instead offering voter data accessible through public records channels. The Department of Justice subsequently sued Oregon and its Secretary of State, Tobias Read. The DOJ cited the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Oregon voters and a nonprofit organization have intervened in the case, warning that providing an unredacted file would expose sensitive personal information.
• A federal judge in Boston suggested the Trump administration consider issuing a student visa to 19-year-old Babson College student Anelly Lucia Lopez Berossa to resolve what he called a "bureaucratic snafu" in her case. Lopez Berossa was deported to Honduras in violation of a court order blocking her removal. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns raised the visa option during a hearing yesterday. The government had previously acknowledged that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer "made a mistake" by failing to properly flag the order prohibiting Lopez Berossa's deportation; an assistant U.S. attorney apologized on behalf of the government. Stearns did not immediately rule on Lopez Berossa's requests for relief—including a motion seeking to hold officials in contempt—but asked the government what remedy it proposed given that "there is a human being involved here." (Reuters)