On December 12, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a pardon to Tina Peters, a former elections clerk in Colorado, who is currently serving a nine-year sentence for allowing unauthorized access to voting machines during the 2020 presidential election. Peters was convicted on multiple state charges, including attempting to influence a public servant and conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation. Legal interpretations suggest that presidential pardons apply only to federal offenses, not state crimes. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser stated that Trump's pardon lacks legal precedent and will not be upheld, emphasizing the importance of state sovereignty in managing criminal justice systems.

Additionally, Trump granted a pardon to Representative Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat awaiting trial on federal bribery charges. This action was perceived as an attempt to encourage Cuellar to switch political parties, following his refusal to align with Trump. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed support for Cuellar, criticizing the legitimacy of the indictment, which includes serious allegations of accepting bribes from foreign entities in exchange for influencing U.S. policy. Critics argue that such political maneuvers undermine public trust in governmental institutions and the integrity of the justice system.

In a separate development, the Trump administration is implementing significant changes to immigration policy, particularly affecting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and family reunification programs. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination of TPS for Ethiopia and the discontinuation of several family reunification parole programs for migrants from various countries, including Colombia and Haiti. The Family Reunification Program allowed immigrants to join family members in the U.S. but is being terminated due to concerns about security vulnerabilities and compliance with immigration laws.

Critics, including Anna Gallagher from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, have raised alarms about the potential for family separations and the hardships these changes may impose on those relying on lawful pathways to reunite with their families. Gallagher noted that these programs were established by Congress to uphold family unity and human dignity. The Department of Homeland Security maintains that TPS designations are temporary and that conditions in Ethiopia no longer warrant protection, giving TPS holders 60 days to leave the U.S. Legal challenges to these decisions are anticipated.