The Department of Justice has used the Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the first time, deporting a national security threat. The action targets a former Liberian combatant convicted of human rights violations.
Former Liberian Fighter Deported After 19 Years in U.S.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Amos Sheik Massaquoi, 55, to Liberia on August 11. Officials said he entered the United States in August 2006 and remained illegally until his 2019 arrest in Maryland.
ICE accused Massaquoi of ordering extrajudicial killings, torture, forced labor and recruiting child soldiers during Liberia’s civil wars from 1989 to 2003. A federal judge ordered his removal after he violated release conditions in April 2025.
Foiled Election‑Day Terror Plot
Investigators also uncovered a foiled election‑day terror plot by Afghan national Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi. Authorities said the plot targeted a polling place in the United States.
ICE Statistics on Terrorist Deportations
Since 2003, ICE has arrested more than 520 individuals for human rights violations and removed 1,178 known or suspected terrorists, according to agency data. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center has blocked over 415 additional suspects from entering the country.
TSA Opens Gateside Access at 13 Airports
The Transportation Security Administration launched new gateside access points at 13 airports for approved visitors. The program expands screening options while maintaining security standards.
Liberia Agrees to Accept 1,200 Deportees
Liberia has committed to accept 1,200 third‑country deportees from the United States within the next year. The agreement supports broader U.S. efforts to remove violent offenders.
HSI Maryland Special Agent Akil Baldwin warned that anyone who engages in bloodshed abroad has no place in the United States. ICE officials reiterated that the Alien Terrorist Removal Court will be used to expedite future deportations of war criminals.
