The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a case involving Izuchukwu Ozurumba, a Nigerian national whose asylum status hinges on whether his work as a cook for leaders of a group designated as a terrorist organization constitutes material support for terrorism. The high court granted the Department of Justice’s petition on October 13, agreeing to hear arguments on the matter. No justices provided explanations for the decision or dissented.
The case centers on Ozurumba’s claim that he was forced to work at a camp run by the Unknown Gunmen, a separatist group in southern Nigeria, without pay and under threat. According to court documents, Ozurumba sought employment and accepted a cooking position after a tip from an acquaintance. He testified that he did not initially know the camp’s true purpose but remained there for about six months before escaping. Ozurumba later entered the U.S. illegally in July 2023 via Venezuela.
An immigration judge ruled that Ozurumba had provided material support to the terrorist group by cooking for its leaders and ordered his deportation. The Board of Immigration Appeals upheld the decision. However, a split panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated the removal order, finding that Ozurumba’s support did not meet the legal threshold for materiality. The government has argued that cooking meals for group leaders qualifies as material support, while Ozurumba’s legal team contends the work was involuntary and inconsequential to the group’s operations.
The Supreme Court’s review will determine whether the Fourth Circuit’s decision conflicts with rulings from other circuits and whether it undermines the government’s ability to deport individuals with alleged terrorism ties. The case raises questions about the scope of material support laws and the circumstances under which such support is deemed substantial enough to warrant deportation.