Justice Department Files First Petition to Dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court

The Justice Department submitted the first-ever petition to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a secretive tribunal created in 1996 but never used until Wednesday. The filing seeks the deportation of an unnamed individual alleged to meet the statutory definition of an “alien terrorist.” Chief Judge Joan Ericksen held a hearing, raised questions about the government’s evidentiary nexus, and ordered the department to provide additional information. The court, composed of five judges appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts, operates under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. The move reflects the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy.