A little-known court called the Alien Terrorist Removal Court is now being used for the first time to remove alien terrorists from the US.
The Court, which has been unused since its creation in 1996, heard its first ever application for removal this week.
Judge Joan Ericksen heard attorney arguments and reviewed evidence presented by the Trump administration against an unnamed individual.
The Court was created according to the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, passed by Congress in 1996 as part of a legal effort to combat international terrorism.
The legislation that created the Court authorizes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to choose five District Judges to review applications for the removal of suspected alien terrorists.
🔥 HELL YES! The Trump DOJ has just activated a NEVER before used ALIEN TERRORIST REMOVAL COURTThis allows for the admin to RAPIDLY DEPORT illegals deemed terrorists (such as Tren de Aragua) AND their family membersMuch of the proceedings are done in classified settings, and… pic.twitter.com/SV7l0W3DMf— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 18, 2026
Judges currently serving are presiding Judge Ericksen of the Eighth Circuit for the District of Minnesota, since 2023; Judge Timothy DeGiusti of the 10th Circuit for the Western District of Oklahoma, since 2025; Judge Kenneth Karas of the Second Circuit for the Southern District of New York, since 2022; Judge Sara Lioi of the Sixth Circuit for the Northern District of Ohio, since 2025; and Judge Karin Immergut of the Ninth Circuit for the District of Oregon, who began this year.
The Attorney General drafts and submits sealed applications to the court.
The Epoch Times explains, “A single judge may accept an application if they find the individual in question was properly identified as an alien terrorist whose removal under other available legal methods would pose a risk to national security.
“After accepting the application, the court must hold a public removal hearing.
“The suspected alien terrorist is entitled to be represented by counsel and to present arguments in their defense.
“In addition to bearing the burden of proof, the federal government must also craft an unclassified summary of the accusations and evidence against the suspected terrorist, which one of the five judges must deem sufficient for the alien to prepare a defense.”
The Department of Justice has yet to release any details about the individual being considered for removal.
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