The Trump administration is turning to a little-used federal court created nearly 30 years ago as part of its broader effort to remove noncitizens accused of terrorist activity from the United States.
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was established by Congress in 1996 during the Clinton administration. It consists of five federal judges and was designed to review government requests to deport noncitizens suspected of being involved in terrorism.
According to Court Watch, applications are filed under seal by the Attorney General. The court had reportedly never received an application since its creation, but that changed last Wednesday. A hearing was held the following day, although the details of the case and the identity of the person involved were not made public.
Law Dork reported that the person targeted by the application may not be notified before the government asks the court to approve the removal. To qualify for proceedings under this system, the government must allege that the individual is connected to terrorist activity.
The court’s sudden use comes as the administration looks for additional legal tools to deport people it considers national security threats.
Two criminal organizations with operations tied to Latin America were designated as foreign terrorist organizations in February 2025. One was Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that U.S. officials have accused of expanding its presence inside the country. The other was MS-13, a gang that has operated in the United States and several Central American countries.
The administration could attempt to use the Alien Terrorist Removal Court against members of those groups who are not U.S. citizens and who meet the legal requirements for removal. Law Dork reported that hearings before the court are intended to move quickly and be open to the public, even though the government’s initial application may be filed secretly.
Supporters of the administration’s approach argue that people connected to designated terrorist organizations should be removed as quickly as the law allows. They also say the court could help the government avoid some of the delays that have slowed other deportation cases.
The renewed use of the court also comes during a period of intense conflict over immigration enforcement. Officials in several states and cities have openly criticized federal deportation operations, while activists have organized demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Some of those confrontations have become violent. In Minneapolis, 37-year-old Renée Good was fatally shot by an officer during an encounter in which authorities said she attempted to strike him with her vehicle. The shooting intensified public anger and added to the already heated debate surrounding immigration enforcement.
Federal facilities have also become targets. ABC News reported that a person described as an anti-government extremist detonated an incendiary device outside a federal building in New York City used by ICE and other agencies.
At the same time, Democratic officials and media commentators have faced criticism for comparing ICE operations to authoritarian policing. Supporters of the administration argue that such language encourages resistance and makes it more difficult for federal agents to carry out lawful enforcement actions.