# US immigration policy court battles > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/multiple-unrelated-legal-rulings-in-aprilmay-2026 > Updated: 2026-07-30T01:42:23.000Z. Sources: 243. Developments: 34. Federal courts have repeatedly blocked key components of the Trump administration’s hard‑line immigration agenda. In mid‑July 2026, Chief Judge James E. Boasberg issued a preliminary injunction halting a State Department policy that barred visas for scholars researching disinformation and hate speech, deeming it likely unconstitutional. Shortly thereafter, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani barred the administration from invoking the “Termination Clause” to cancel billions in congressionally appropriated grants, preserving funding for diverse programs. The Department of Homeland Security also resumed naturalization processing for Venezuelan and Cuban migrants after a court invalidated security‑related memoranda. On July 20, the Justice Department filed the first petition to reactivate the dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), a secret tribunal created in 1996 for deportation hearings of alleged terrorist non‑citizens. The filing sparked concerns over due‑process protections. The next week the ATRC held a hearing; Chief Judge Joan Ericksen asked the government for additional information linking the alleged conduct to the statutory provisions. A supplemental filing followed on July 22, and the court has not yet approved the application or set a removal hearing. Legal experts continue to debate the constitutionality and procedural implications of using the ATRC for immigration enforcement. Further developments emerged later in July. On July 15 the Justice Department formally submitted the first application to the ATRC, and on July 16 Chief Judge Ericksen conducted a hearing, questioning the connection between the classified allegations and the court’s statutory authority. A supplemental filing on July 22 reiterated the request for more detail, leaving the court’s next steps unresolved. On July 30 the department filed a petition to deport Afghan national Nazira Haji Zada through the ATRC, alleging her involvement in an ISIS‑inspired plot linked to family members convicted in a 2024 election‑day terrorist scheme. ## Claims - Abdullah Haji Zada was sentenced to 15 years in prison last November. (corroborated by 32 sources) - Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State. (corroborated by 32 sources) - Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Congress created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court to remove alien terrorists who should never have been in the United States. (corroborated by 32 sources) - Nazira Haji Zada is the mother and mother‑in‑law of Abdullah Haji Zada and Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The Alien Terrorist Removal Court, created in 1996, had never heard a case until July 2026. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The Justice Department filed a petition to deport Nazira Haji Zada using the Alien Terrorist Removal Court. (corroborated by 20 sources) - Nazira Haji Zada, a 47‑year‑old Afghan permanent resident of Fort Worth, Texas, is accused of supporting an Islamic State‑inspired plot targeting the 2024 Election Day. (corroborated by 20 sources) - U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen presided over the Alien Terrorist Removal Court hearing. (corroborated by 20 sources) - The court’s proceedings rely on classified information that cannot be fully disclosed to the public. (corroborated by 20 sources) - Nazira Haji Zada is the first person facing deportation through the Alien Terrorist Removal Court. (corroborated by 19 sources) - The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was established in 1996 and had never received a petition until this month. (corroborated by 19 sources) - A hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Washington, D.C. on the government's petition to deport Nazira Haji Zada. (corroborated by 19 sources) - Nazira Haji Zada is accused of supporting an Islamic State‑inspired plot in the United States. (corroborated by 19 sources) - Nazira Haji Zada is a 47‑year‑old Afghan permanent resident of Fort Worth, Texas. (corroborated by 5 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-07-30: US Justice Dept uses Alien Terrorist Removal Court to deport Afghan woman Nazira Haji Zada The Justice Department invoked the never‑used 1996 Alien Terrorist Removal Court to deport Nazira Haji Zada, a 47‑year‑old Afghan permanent resident accused of supporting an ISIS‑inspired Election‑Day plot; her 38 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-government-seeks-deportation-of-afghan-woman-nazira-haji-zada-via-dormant-alien-terrorist-removal ### 2026-07-26: Trump Activates Dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court for First Case The Trump administration filed the first case in the dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a 1996 national‑security tool, with a hearing and supplemental filing ordered by Chief Judge Joan Ericksen. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trump-activates-dormant-alien-terrorist-removal-court-for-first-case ### 2026-07-23: US Justice Department activates dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court The US Justice Department filed the first petition to activate the dormant 1996 Alien Terrorist Removal Court, prompting debate over secret deportations and due‑process rights. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trump-administration-revives-secret-alien-terrorist-removal-court ### 2026-07-21: U.S. Appeals Court Bars Judges from Blocking Trump's Immigration Crackdown A U.S. appeals court ruled a judge overstepped by releasing a Palestinian student, upholding the Trump administration’s authority in immigration proceedings. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-appeals-court-bars-judges-from-blocking-trumps-immigration-crackdown ### 2026-07-20: US Justice Department revives secret Alien Terrorist Removal Court to deport alleged terrorists The Justice Department reactivated the secret Alien Terrorist Removal Court, enabling faster deportations of alleged alien terrorists with limited due process, part of the Trump administration’s push to speedup 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-justice-department-revives-secret-alien-terrorist-removal-court-to-deport-alleged-terrorists ### 2026-07-17: U.S. judge blocks Trump administration's use of termination clause to cut federal grants A Boston federal judge barred the Trump administration from using an OMB termination clause to cancel billions in grant funding, affirming state coalition claims and preserving key programs. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-federal-judge-blocks-trump-administrations-grant-cuts ### 2026-07-14: US Judge Blocks Trump Administration Visa Restrictions on Disinformation Researchers Judge James Boasberg blocked a Trump‑admin visa policy targeting foreign disinformation researchers, ruling it likely violates the First Amendment. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-judge-blocks-trump-administration-visa-restrictions-on-disinformation-researchers ### 2026-07-11: US Federal Judges Block Trump Administration Policies in Texas and West Coast Federal judges Boasberg and Orrick respectively allowed an FTC case against WPATH and blocked Trump‑admin DEI grant conditions for 11 West Coast cities. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-federal-judges-block-trump-administration-policies-in-texas-and-west-coast ### 2026-07-09: U.S. Judge Orders USCIS to Restart Frozen Green Card Cases A federal judge ordered USCIS to resume processing frozen green‑card and work‑permit applications for 25 U.S. residents, while USCIS outlines typical grounds for denying permanent residency. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-judge-orders-uscis-to-restart-frozen-green-card-cases ### 2026-07-07: Federal judge blocks Trump administration's immigration processing freeze A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s immigration freeze, ordering resumption of processing for applicants from multiple countries and noting potential discriminatory motives; JD Vance also linked 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/federal-judge-blocks-trump-administrations-immigration-processing-freeze ### 2026-06-25: US Supreme Court backs Trump policy to block asylum seekers at border The US Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that asylum seekers must cross the US‑Mexico border to qualify for asylum, upholding Trump’s policy to turn away migrants and affecting hundreds of thousands of refugees,including 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-supreme-court-backs-trump-policy-to-block-asylum-seekers-at-border ### 2026-06-24: US Supreme Court expands power over asylum and green‑card holder admissions The US Supreme Court issued two 6‑3 rulings expanding executive immigration power: one blocks asylum claims by migrants stopped before entry, and the other lets officials treat returning green‑card holders as “ 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-supreme-court-expands-power-over-asylum-and-greencard-holder-admissions ### 2026-06-24: US Federal Judge Blocks Nationwide Immigration Court Arrests U.S. Judge P. Casey Pitts blocks the Trump administration’s nationwide ICE arrests at immigration courts, ruling the policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-federal-judge-blocks-nationwide-immigration-court-arrests ### 2026-06-24: U.S. Judge Blocks Nationwide ICE Arrests in Immigration Courts U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts issued a nationwide injunction stopping ICE arrests in immigration courts, deeming the policy arbitrary and chilling; the NLRB also ordered Amazon to bargain with the Teamster 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-judge-issues-nationwide-injunction-stopping-ice-arrests-in-immigration-courts ### 2026-06-23: US Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration to Resume Nationwide Fast-Track Deportations A D.C. Circuit appeals court lifted a lower‑court block, letting the Trump administration resume nationwide expedited removal of undocumented migrants, a move praised by Republicans and condemned by the ACLU as 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-appeals-court-allows-trump-administration-to-resume-nationwide-fast-track-deportations ### 2026-06-23: USCIS resumes processing for nationals of 39 countries after federal court order A Rhode Island federal judge ordered USCIS to resume processing work permits and immigration applications for nationals of 39 countries, prompting the agency to restart cases while it appeals the decision. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uscis-resumes-processing-for-nationals-of-39-countries-after-federal-court-order ### 2026-06-22: U.S. Federal Judge Blocks Nationwide ICE Arrests in Immigration Courts Judge P. Pitts nationwide blocks ICE arrests in immigration courts, calling Trump-era policies arbitrary, capricious and a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. 82 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-federal-judge-expands-nationwide-ban-on-ice-arrests-in-immigration-courts ### 2026-06-15: US Supreme Court to Review Immigrant Detention Bond Hearings The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Genalo v. Black, reviewing whether the government can detain criminal immigrants without bond hearings, a case that could set nationwide due‑process standards. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-supreme-court-to-review-indefinite-detention-of-criminal-immigrants ### 2026-06-14: Trump administration resumes asylum and immigration processing after court order The Trump administration will follow a Rhode Island judge’s order and restart processing of asylum and immigration applications halted by earlier policies, affecting over 1 million pending cases. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trump-administration-resumes-asylum-and-immigration-processing-after-court-order ### 2026-06-11: Pennsylvania man freed from ICE detention after court blocks U‑visa policy Erasmo Zavala, a Pennsylvania grandfather, was freed after 45 days in ICE detention when a federal judge ruled the new ICE policy on U‑visa applicants unlawful, issuing a nationwide injunction. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pennsylvania-man-freed-from-ice-detention-after-court-blocks-uvisa-policy ### 2026-06-09: US Federal Judges Block Key Trump Immigration Policies U.S. judges ordered USCIS to restart frozen immigration cases and struck down Trump's $100,000 H‑1B fee, citing legal violations and affecting thousands of applicants. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-federal-judges-block-key-trump-immigration-policies ### 2026-06-06: US Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump Immigration Policy Targeting 39 Countries A US federal judge struck down a Trump-era policy that barred immigrants from 39 countries, restoring legal immigration pathways. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-federal-judge-strikes-down-trump-immigration-policy-targeting-39-countries ### 2026-06-05: US federal judge halts Trump-era migrant restrictions US Judge John McConnell blocks Trump immigration rule that halted asylum and work‑permit processing for migrants from 39 countries, calling it a “legal vacuum.” 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-federal-judge-halts-trump-era-migrant-restrictions ### 2026-06-05: US Federal Court Blocks Trump-Era Immigration Bans for 39 Nations A US federal judge declared Trump‑era immigration bans on citizens of 39 countries illegal, restoring normal processing of green cards, asylum and work permits. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-federal-court-blocks-trump-era-immigration-bans-for-39-nations ### 2026-06-05: US federal judge rules immigration application freeze unlawful A US federal judge declared the USCIS’s indefinite freeze on green card, work permit and asylum applications unlawful, noting it was based solely on applicants’ birthplaces. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-federal-judge-rules-immigration-application-freeze-unlawful ### 2026-06-05: Federal Judge Blocks Trump Immigration Policy Affecting 39 Countries A federal judge struck down a Trump-era policy that barred immigrants from 39 countries from finalizing asylum and residency applications, calling it illegal and discriminatory. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/federal-judge-blocks-trump-immigration-policy-affecting-39-countries ### 2026-06-05: U.S. Judge Blocks Trump Immigration Policy Affecting 39 Nations Judge John McConnell Jr. struck down a Trump immigration policy that barred immigrants from 39 countries, ordering USCIS to resume processing; White House deputy Stephen Miller condemned the decision. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-judge-blocks-trump-immigration-policy-affecting-39-nations ### 2026-06-05: U.S. Federal Judge Blocks Trump Immigration Freeze for 39 Countries A Rhode Island federal judge invalidated Trump’s asylum and benefit freeze for 39 countries, ordering USCIS to resume processing and calling the policies illegal and discriminatory. 39 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/judge-john-mcconnell-orders-us-to-resume-asylum-and-immigration-processing ### 2026-05-21: US Fifth Circuit to Decide Due Process Rights for Undocumented Immigrants The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will rule on whether undocumented immigrants have the constitutional right to challenge detention, after a Trump‑era policy eliminated bond hearings and sparked a surge in det 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-fifth-circuit-to-decide-due-process-rights-for-undocumented-immigrants ### 2026-05-16: US Courts Block ICE Detention Policies Amid Circuit Split, Supreme Court Likely to Rule US courts reject ICE detention policies; split appeals courts push the issue to the Supreme Court. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-courts-block-ice-detention-policies-amid-circuit-split-supreme-court-likely-to-rule ### 2026-05-13: Federal judges block Trump administration's deportation and transgender‑care subpoenas Judges order return of a deported Colombian woman and block DOJ subpoena for transgender youth records. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trump-administration-immigration-policies-face-mounting-judicial-setbacks ### 2026-05-12: Sixth Circuit Court orders bond hearings for detained immigrants, overturning mandatory detention rule Sixth Circuit orders bond hearings for detained immigrants, overturning the Trump‑era mandatory detention policy. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sixth-circuit-court-orders-bond-hearings-for-detained-immigrants-overturning-mandatory-detention-rul ### 2026-05-06: U.S. 11th Circuit Court blocks Trump immigration no‑bond policy The 11th Circuit ruled 2‑1 that the Trump administration cannot detain interior illegal immigrants without bond, widening a circuit split. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-11th-circuit-court-blocks-trump-immigration-nobond-policy ### 2026-04-24: US appeals courts rule Trump's border asylum ban illegal, require processing of new asylum applications Appeals courts rule Trump's border asylum ban illegal and require processing of new asylum applications. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-appeals-courts-rule-trumps-border-asylum-ban-illegal-require-processing-of-new-asylum-application --- Cite as: US immigration policy court battles. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/multiple-unrelated-legal-rulings-in-aprilmay-2026