The United States has officially landed on the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist, grouped with countries like Kenya, El Salvador, and Turkey—nations known for suppressing civil freedoms. The move comes after six months of escalating attacks on democratic rights under President Trump’s second term.
Peaceful protests have been met with military deployment. Over 350 demonstrators were arrested across cities like LA, Austin, and New York after people took to the streets to oppose aggressive ICE raids. On June 7, President Trump deployed 700 Marines and 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to clamp down on dissent.
It’s not just protesters. Journalists are under fire too. On June 9, Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi was shot with a rubber bullet while covering an anti-ICE protest. Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara, a U.S. resident, was arrested and later handed over to ICE after livestreaming a “No Kings” demonstration. He remains in custody.
The crackdown has even reached Capitol Hill. In July, Republican lawmakers approved a massive funding cut—over $1.1 billion—from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, threatening PBS, NPR, and other independent outlets. Trump has also sued major outlets including ABC and the Wall Street Journal to silence critical reporting.
Civil society hasn’t been spared. States like Nebraska and Florida passed laws to restrict nonprofits receiving foreign funds or engaging in advocacy. Nebraska’s “Foreign Agent and Terrorist Agent Registration Act” takes effect in October, hitting groups linked to countries labeled as adversaries. Meanwhile, Trump’s new “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” slashes nonprofit funding by over $80 billion, gutting resources for communities most in need.
Supporters of Palestinian rights are facing increasing repression as well. Foreign-born students and even UN officials have been targeted for voicing criticism of Israel’s actions. The Trump administration’s sanctioning of Francesca Albanese, a UN Special Rapporteur, sent shockwaves through the international community.
Experts warn these moves signal deeper democratic erosion. CIVICUS Secretary General Mandeep Tiwana said the U.S. is “sliding deeper into authoritarianism,” where peaceful dissent is criminalized and the First Amendment feels more like a suggestion than a right.
From the streets to the pressrooms to the nonprofit space, freedom in the U.S. is being squeezed. And now, the world is watching.
