Lawsuit Targets Trump-Ordered Memphis Anti-Crime Taskforce Over Alleged Civil-Liberties Violations

In May 2026 the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the Memphis anti-crime taskforce, created under a Trump executive order and activated by Governor Bill Lee, has engaged in intimidation, unlawful surveillance, and false arrests of community observers. Six plaintiffs describe “cowboy tactics” such as bumper-riding, pretextual traffic stops, and arbitrary detentions.

The Guardian

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in September 2025 calling for a national-level anti-crime initiative. Governor Bill Lee responded by deploying more than 2,000 state and federal officers, including the U.S. Marshals Service, which declined comment on the allegations. Tennessee’s 2025 “Halo” law makes intentionally approaching a police officer within 25 feet a Class B misdemeanor, a provision the lawsuit says the taskforce has weaponized without clear definition of the buffer zone.

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• Donald Trump – former president, author of the executive order.

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• Bill Lee – Republican governor of Tennessee, oversaw taskforce activation.

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• Gadyaces S Serralta – Director of the U.S. Marshals Service, chairs the taskforce.

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• ACLU of Tennessee – plaintiff organization alleging constitutional violations.

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• Community observers – including Hunter Demster, Jessica Chodor, and James West, who reported harassment and punitive actions.

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By mid-March 2026 the taskforce reported more than 7,000 arrests, seizure of over 1,000 illegal firearms, and reunification of more than 150 missing children with families. A White House release cited a 43 % reduction in overall Memphis crime compared with the same period in 2025, fewer than 200 murders—the lowest count since 2019—and a near-40 % drop in shootings. Independent data indicate that violent crime in Memphis had been declining prior to the taskforce’s deployment.

The Guardian

The White House asserted that the taskforce’s actions have produced a dramatic decline in violent crime. President Trump emphasized that “for years, our leaders allowed entire cities in America to be destroyed by crime, drugs and gang violence.” Governor Lee has highlighted the deployment as a necessary response to public safety concerns. The U.S. Marshals Service declined to comment on the specific allegations.

The Guardian

The ACLU contends that taskforce agents have issued verbal threats, taunted plaintiffs by name, and recorded personal information for surveillance. It further alleges that the Halo law is applied inconsistently, with officers telling observers “25 ft isn’t a thing – you have to get back to where I want you.” Federal agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, revoked James West’s Global Entry status after he photographed taskforce activities, citing a potential law-enforcement investigation.

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Hunter Demster reported that an unmarked black Ford Expedition swerved within two inches of him and that agents addressed him by name from a loudspeaker, causing him to “lose peace.” Jessica Chodor described being tackled, pinned, and held for 27 hours after announcing she was broadcasting live. Both plaintiffs provided detailed logs of vehicle tailing and home surveillance.

The Guardian

The taskforce’s claimed crime reductions contrast with broader national trends that predate its formation, raising questions about attribution. No independent crime-statistics analysis has been presented. Additionally, the precise parameters of the 25-foot buffer remain undefined, and the U.S. Marshals Service has offered no substantive response to the lawsuit’s claims.

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• “When I am home alone and I hear a branch snap, my heart drops,” — Hunter Demster, lead litigant

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• “I exclaimed to him: ‘you’re on Live’ which means being recorded and broadcast to social media in real time,” — Jessica Chodor, arrested observer

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• “Overall crime in Memphis is down more than 43% compared to the same period last year – a dramatic drop from the bloodshed ushered in by the failed policies of the past,” — White House spokesperson

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• “are issuing verbal threats, including threats of arrest” — ACLU of Tennessee

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• “25ft isn’t a thing – you have to get back to where I want you” — ACLU of Tennessee

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• “For years, our leaders allowed entire cities in America to be destroyed by crime, drugs and gang violence,” — Donald Trump

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The lawsuit proceeds in federal court, seeking injunctive relief and damages. Plaintiffs request a court order limiting taskforce surveillance tactics and clarifying the application of the Halo law. The outcome may shape federal-state cooperation on anti-crime initiatives and set precedents for civil-rights protections in law-enforcement operations.

The Guardian