DOJ Awakens 30-Year-Old 'Zombie' Terror Court That No President Ever Used

Executive Briefing

• Activates the Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the first time in its nearly 30-year history to deport a terrorism suspect.
• Signals a shift after Judge Boasberg suggested the court as an alternative to the Alien Enemies Act deportation method.
• Requires the DOJ to provide additional documentation after ATRC Chief Judge Erickson found the initial sealed filing insufficient.
• Establishes a classified-evidence process allowing deportations without publicly disclosing national security intelligence.
• Critics note no prior administration ever utilized the court, which Congress created specifically for terrorism-related removals in 1996.