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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, 2026Subsequent Trump and Court Action
July 30, 20262026.07.30 OPA Press Release - ATRC Nazira Haji Zada
DOJ's Office of Public Affairs issued a press release about the ATRC case. DOJ seeks to remove lawful permanent resident Nazira Haji Zada, the matriarch of an Afghan family residing in Texas, for her role in a plot to commit an ISIS-inspired mass shooting on Election Day 2024 for which her son and son-in-law were previously arrested and convicted.
**Link to case here. See litigation note above**
View DocumentCurrent Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/Actual In LitigationTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: Enforcement Hearings and AdjudicationsAssociated or Derivative Policies
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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."
Go to article2026.07.22 DOJ’s ‘Alien Terrorist’ Court Tactic Set for Lengthy Legal Fight - Bloomberg Law
A DOJ spokesperson discussed the ATRC's role in immigration enforcement after its first case was filed, stating that the administration intends to “use every tool available to bring alien terrorists to justice and remove them from the United States, including this court.” Former officials emphasized that ATRC judges will likely closely review DOJ's arguments given the heightened process concerns, scrutiny, and challenges associated with this case.
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