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Original Date Announced
July 15, 2026Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche submitted a sealed application to the five-judge Alien Terrorist Removal Court ("ATRC") to initiate the removal of an individual classified as an "alien terrorist." This is the first time a case has been referred to the ATRC since it was created by Congress in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 ("IIRIRA"). After an initial hearing on July 16, the court requested additional information from the Department of Justice, giving the government until July 22, 2026, to submit further documentation.
**Link to case here. Our litigation entries generally report only the initial complaint and any major substantive filings or decisions. Other sites that track litigation in more detail or organize cases by topic include Civil Rights Clearinghouse, Justice Action Center, National Immigration Litigation Alliance, and Just Security**
Trump 2.0 [ID #2340]
2026.07.17 Reported: Alien Terrorist Removal Court Has Its First Case - Court WatchEffective Date
July 15, 2026Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/Actual In LitigationTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: Enforcement Hearings and Adjudications
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Commentary
2026.07.20 Just Security - The Alien Terrorist Removal Court’s First Case
Steve Vladeck analyzes the ATRC and its activation by the Trump administration. He argues that the ATRC will not be a "rubber stamp" to allow the administration to pursue "mass, summary deportations." However, he highlights the serious constitutional concerns raised, including due process concerns that the government can "remove someone from the country based on evidence the person being removed never sees."
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