Day 361
January 15, 2026
7 documented events
- Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern Deportation to Torture
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 deportees and beat them with batons. Journalists who attempted to interview deportees were also detained. Human Rights Watch documented arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearances, torture, rape, extortion, and confiscation of IDs upon arrival.
From: Secret Cameroon Deportation Agreement and Torture of Deportees
- Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern Corruption & Self-Dealing
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
- Serious Rights Violation Deportation & Immigration
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
- Serious Rights Violation Civil Rights
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.'
- Serious Rights Violation Rule of Law
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
- Serious Rights Violation Federal Dismantlement
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.
- War Crime / Crime Against Humanity Complicity in Genocide
Trump administration bypasses Congressional review for 12,000+ bombs
Using emergency authority, the Trump administration approved the transfer of more than 12,000 thousand-pound bombs to Israel without standard Congressional review procedures.
From: US Arms Transfers to Israel During ICJ Genocide Proceedings