The Trump administration has referred 117 individuals to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a secretive tribunal that can deport non-citizens based on classified evidence, according to a report by the Guardian. This marks a significant escalation in immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.
Secretive Tribunal Activated
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court, established under the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, had been largely dormant until now. The court allows the government to deport non-citizens deemed to be terrorists or terrorist supporters using evidence that is not disclosed to the defendant or their lawyers. The 117 referrals represent the first time the court has been used on such a scale.
According to the Guardian, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed cases against individuals from a range of countries, including Syria, Iraq, and Somalia. The DOJ argues that the court is necessary to protect national security, but civil liberties groups have condemned the move as a violation of due process.
Criticism from Civil Liberties Groups
“This is a grave threat to fundamental fairness,” said Hina Shamsi, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Security Project. “The government is using secret evidence to deport people without giving them a chance to see or challenge the case against them. That is not how justice works in America.”
The referrals were made by the DOJ’s National Security Division, which has been expanding its use of immigration-related national security tools. The cases will be heard by a panel of federal judges appointed by the chief justice of the US Supreme Court. The proceedings are closed to the public, and the identities of some defendants have not been disclosed.
Impact on Immigration Policy
The move is part of a broader crackdown on immigration under the Trump administration. The president has made immigration enforcement a central pillar of his campaign and presidency, promising to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. The use of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court allows the government to bypass regular immigration courts, which are already overwhelmed with a backlog of over 1 million cases.
Immigration advocates argue that the court could be used to target individuals based on their religion or political beliefs. “This is a dangerous precedent,” said Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. “The government is creating a parallel justice system where they can deport people based on secret information. That is un-American.”
Government Defense
The DOJ has defended the use of the court, stating that it is a lawful tool to combat terrorism. “The Alien Terrorist Removal Court is an important mechanism to protect the American people from those who pose a national security threat,” a DOJ spokesperson said. “All cases are reviewed thoroughly and comply with the law.”
The referrals come amid a broader debate over the balance between security and civil liberties. The Trump administration has also expanded surveillance programs and travel bans targeting predominantly Muslim countries. Critics say the administration is eroding constitutional protections in the name of security.
