US Justice Department revives secret Alien Terrorist Removal Court to deport alleged terrorists

The U.S. Justice Department filed the first petition to reactivate the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a secret tribunal created in 1996 that had never previously received a case. The move, announced in the Trump administration, would allow the government to pursue faster removals of non‑citizens designated as "alien terrorists," with more limited access to evidence and reduced procedural protections compared with regular immigration hearings.

Legal experts note that the court could bypass standard due‑process rights, raising questions about how much evidence will be disclosed to respondents and what burden of proof will apply. The administration’s broader strategy includes seeking additional legal avenues to accelerate deportations, amid ongoing debates over immigration policy and national‑security priorities.