{"id":2631689,"date":"2026-07-18T12:14:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T16:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-uses-decades-old-alien-terrorist-deportation-court-for-first-time\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T12:15:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T16:15:02","slug":"doj-uses-decades-old-alien-terrorist-deportation-court-for-first-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-uses-decades-old-alien-terrorist-deportation-court-for-first-time\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ uses decades old &#8216;alien terrorist&#8217; deportation court for first time"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-uses-decades-old-alien-terrorist-deportation-court-for-first-time%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2631689&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Department of Justice has submitted its first-ever submission to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a specialized court established three decades ago but never previously used. The submission, made on July 15, remains sealed and includes classified information, prompting a review by U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen, who ordered the DOJ to revise their application for more clarity. The court,created by the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective death Penalty Act,allows the government to seek the removal of noncitizens deemed to be alien terrorists,with applications requiring approval from the attorney general and a sworn statement of facts. Despite its long existence, the court has yet to be utilized, even though it gained attention during debates over the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to deport individuals linked to designated terrorist organizations. Legal experts note that Congress has established procedures for handling suspected terrorists, suggesting the court could serve as a formal mechanism for such cases in the future.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"438\">Department of Justice<\/a> has submitted its first-ever application to the Alien Terrorist Removal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/courts\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"439\">Court<\/a>, a never-before-used court established three decades ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The application, filed July 15, was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.atrc.uscourts.gov\/docs\/2026-TRC-1-Application.pdf\">submitted<\/a> with little public notice. Its contents remain sealed, and an accompanying cover sheet indicates the filing contains classified information.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4654489\/doj-alien-terrorist-deportation-court\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ uses \u2018alien terrorist\u2019 deportation court for first time in history<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4653293\/markwayne-mullin-ice-turn-up-heat-street\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Markwayne Mullin says ICE is \u2018turning up the heat on the streets\u2019 after traffic stop turnaround<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4652238\/ice-office-body-cameras-60-days\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Every ICE field office will have body cameras in next 60 days, DHS says<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The court\u2019s chief judge, U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen, a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/george-w-bush\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"697\">George W. Bush<\/a> appointee, held a closed hearing on the matter on Thursday before ordering the Justice Department to submit a revised application.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe government could benefit from the opportunity for more thoughtful consideration,\u201d Ericksen wrote in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.atrc.uscourts.gov\/docs\/2026-TRC-1-Order.pdf\">one-page order.<\/a> She said she had lingering questions about the conduct attributed to the Justice Department\u2019s target and how it fits within the statutory criteria for removing an \u201calien terrorist.\u201d The government has until Wednesday to file an updated application.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Congress <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fjc.gov\/history\/courts\/alien-terrorist-removal-court-1996-present\">established<\/a> the Alien Terrorist Removal Court as part of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. The law authorizes the chief justice of the United States to appoint five U.S. district judges, each from a different federal judicial circuit, to review government applications seeking the removal of noncitizens accused of terrorism-related activities. The chief justice may appoint judges who also serve on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the statute, an application <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/uscode\/text\/8\/1533\">must be approved <\/a>by the attorney general or deputy attorney general, in this case, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and must include a sworn statement of facts explaining why the individual qualifies as an \u201calien terrorist\u201d and why their presence in the United States threatens national security.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/uscode.house.gov\/view.xhtml?req=(title:8%20section:1182%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1182)&#038;f=treesort&#038;num=0&#038;edition=prelim\">law<\/a> defines \u201cterrorist activity\u201d broadly. It covers members of designated foreign terrorist organizations, individuals who commit, plan, endorse, or espouse terrorist activity, and, in some circumstances, the spouses and children of those designated as alien terrorists. It also includes a broader provision allowing the the secretary of state to designate as an alien terrorist a noncitizen who intends to engage in activities that could endanger the welfare, safety, or security of the United States.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the court has existed for nearly three decades, it has never been used.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its existence drew attention last year during litigation over the Trump administration\u2019s effort to deport more than 100 Venezuelan nationals it alleged were members of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua, which the administration designated as a foreign terrorist organization.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4651384\/dhs-consider-immigrant-welfare-green-card\/#google_vignette\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4651384\/dhs-consider-immigrant-welfare-green-card\/#google_vignette\">DHS plans to consider welfare use in determining immigrants\u2019 green cards<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a hearing in that case, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436\/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436.51.0.pdf\">suggested<\/a> Congress had already created a judicial process for removing alleged alien terrorists.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn fact, Congress has an answer for us, doesn\u2019t it? Because they created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court,\u201d Boasberg said. \u201cYou can always go to the ATRC, which would be a first, but that\u2019s what it\u2019s there for, right?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ submits first case to rarely used Alien Terrorist Removal Court<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2631690,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26174422113279.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5835,6184,3813,4901],"class_list":["post-2631689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-aliens","tag-deportation","tag-immigration","tag-justice"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26174422113279.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2631689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2631689"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2631689\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2631692,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2631689\/revisions\/2631692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2631690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2631689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2631689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2631689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}