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This court was created 30 years ago and never heard a case. Trump wants to change that
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by CNN Newsource , KVIA ABC-7
· July 23, 2026
· 9 min read
By Tierney Sneed, CNN (CNN) — A little-known court tasked with handling highly sensitive deportation cases against alleged alien terrorists has laid dormant since its 1996 creation, lacking even a website for tracking any proceedings before it. But this month, the Alien Terrorist Removal Court sp...
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Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting CNN Newsource, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 23, 2026 Indexed here Jul 23, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway But this month, the Alien Terrorist Removal Court sprung to life with a first-of-its-kind case filed by the Trump administration as it reaches for new deportation tactics.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The activation of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court has significant implications for the El Paso community, given its large immigrant population. As the court's procedures are designed to protect state secrets, it raises concerns about the balance between national security and individual due process rights. El Pasoans may wonder how this court will impact local immigration cases, particularly those involving individuals who have been living and working in the community for years. The fact that the court gives the government broad latitude to keep evidence secret, even from the individual being deported, may lead to questions about the fairness of the process. As the case unfolds, El Paso residents will be watching closely to see how the court's decisions may affect the local immigrant community and the broader debate over immigration policy in the region. The city's proximity to the US-Mexico border and its history of immigration make this issue particularly relevant to El Paso.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 23, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 9 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Tierney Sneed, CNN (CNN) — A little-known court tasked with handling highly sensitive deportation cases against alleged alien terrorists has laid dormant since its 1996 creation, lacking even a website for tracking any proceedings before it. But this month, the Alien Terrorist Removal Court sp...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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