WASHINGTON (July 22, 2026) – For the first time since 1996, The Trump administration has activated the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ARTC). It allows for rapid deportation of foreign nationals deemed by the court to be “alien terrorists,” along with their immediate family members.
Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) submitted the first-ever application to the court. Previous administrations chose not to use the ARTC because they had other legal options to monitor individuals suspected of terrorism. When the ARTC was created, it was considered a key tool in the government’s fight against terrorism. It was modeled after the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which reviews government requests for national security actions like electronic surveillance.
GW experts are available for commentary and analysis about these developments.
Aram Gavoor is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professorial Lecturer in Law and Professor (by courtesy) at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration at the George Washington University Law School. Gavoor is an internationally recognized scholar in constitutional law, national security, American administrative law, artificial intelligence, and federal courts.
Alexander Downes is a professor of political science and international affairs, and co-director of the Institute for Security and Conflict Studies at GW. Downes's book Targeting Civilians in War was published by Cornell University Press in 2008 and won the Joseph Lepgold Prize awarded by Georgetown University for the best book in international relations published in that year. Downes has written on a variety of subjects in international security, including civilian victimization, foreign-imposed regime change, military effectiveness, democracy, coercion, alliances, and solutions to civil wars.
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gwu [dot] edu (nadia[dot]payne[at]gwu[dot]edu) or GW Media Relations at gwmediagwu [dot] edu (gwmedia[at]gwu[dot]edu).
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