The US Supreme Court will hear a case involving a Nigerian man seeking asylum who was forced to cook for a group the US government considers a terrorist organization. The ruling could expand the definition of "material support" for terrorism under immigration law.
The Supreme Court's decision could significantly impact how "material support" for terrorism is defined in US immigration law, potentially affecting the asylum claims of individuals who have been coerced into providing services to designated terrorist organizations.
The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could redefine what constitutes "material support" for terrorism under American immigration law. The case involves Izuchukwu Ozurumba, a Nigerian citizen who sought asylum in the US after being forced to cook for a group known as the Unknown Gunmen, which US officials consider a terrorist organization.
Ozurumba claims he was a captive laborer who was forced to stay with the group for six months, during which he observed news reports of violence coinciding with the group's movements. He eventually escaped and fled to the US, applying for asylum. An immigration judge initially denied his claim, finding his cooking constituted material support for terrorism. However, the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals later sided with Ozurumba, ruling that his work did not provide material support as he was a captive laborer and his actions did not directly aid the group's terrorist activities.
The Justice Department is appealing this decision, arguing that if the lower court's ruling stands, it would significantly burden the government's ability to exclude individuals linked to terrorism. The administration contends that providing for basic needs, such as meals, is a form of material support. Ozurumba was deported to Nigeria last year while his case was on appeal. The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments and issue a ruling by the end of June.
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