Amnesty International published a report on Jan. 20, warning of rising authoritarianism in the US and detailing numerous ways in which the rule of law and basic rights are being threatened.

The report, entitled Ringing the Alarm Bells: Rising Authoritarian Practices and Erosion of Human Rights in the United States, ties these areas of concern largely to the policies of President Donald Trump, they range from freedom of speech and protest to the erosion of anti-discrimination protections. The report finds that a key test of democratic resilience will be the federal midterm elections of November 2026, with many early signals pointing to mounting threats to the right to vote.

Press freedom is another of the report's points of focus. Amnesty International details instances when the Trump administration limited the access of journalists to administration events or targeted reporters in deportation proceedings. Such limitations include the removal of the Associated Press' credentials for White House events, after it refused to call the body of water south of the US the "Gulf of America," as well as the removal of press passes for Department of Defense (DoD) reporters who refused to comply with policies mandating the publishing of only approved materials. The courts have now restored the Associated Press' credentials, but DoD reports have since turned in their press passes and not returned.

The report further notes other areas of concern for free speech, including the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who federal agents arrested and attempted to deport. The Trump administration maintains that Khalil’s visa was granted as a result of fraud and misrepresentation. The case has generated a series of court decisions and is still ongoing. It also refers to the moment President Trump federalized the US National Guard to deploy to the City of Los Angeles, California, to support the policing of individuals protesting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration raids and later sent in 300 US Marines to curb protests.

The report further identifies militarization in domestic law enforcement as an area of concern, arguing that military forces "are not appropriate tools for domestic law enforcement." Amnesty International believes the use of military in such situations leads to excessive force and suppression of free speech. A primary example of this mentioned to be, once again, the Trump administration's deployment of the national guard to US cities, including in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, both of which objected to the national guard presence. Trump asserts these operations are necessary to protect federal immigration operations and combat crime. As of now, he ended the National Guard deployment in some cities but stated they may return if necessary.

One of the final alarm bells the report raises is a decrease in anti-discrimination protections, noting the Trump administration’s executive actions against people who are transgender. Amnesty International called Trump’s actions an attempted “erasure” of transgender identity. The report notes different Trump actions like the administration’s removal of the specific LGBTQ+ option in the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and cuts to funding based on transgender policies.

Amnesty International USA executive director Paul O’Brien stated that these US actions “mirror the global pattern Amnesty has seen and warned about for decades.” The report concludes with recommendations for different entities, from state governments to technology companies, to scrutinize policies and enact greater human rights protections within their capacity.

Beyond US borders, Trump withdrew the United States from participation in and funding of 66 international organizations last month, including UN climate bodies, revealing decreased commitment to international collaboration and human rights.

From JURIST, Jan. 20. Used with permission.