Supreme Court to weigh if Nigerian who cooked for terrorists can be denied asylum

The justices will hear arguments and issue a ruling later in the court term, which runs until June.Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via GettyShareAdd NBC News to GoogleOct. 13, 2026, 9:53 AM EDTBy Lawrence HurleyWASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to consider the Trump administration’s bid to deny asylum to a man officials say provided material support to terrorists in Nigeria by cooking food for them.

The case involving Izuchukwu Ozurumba focuses on a provision of immigration law that bars anyone from entering the U.S. if they have “engaged in terrorist activity,” which includes providing material support.

The Trump administration has cracked down on asylum claims as part of its broader anti-immigration policy.

Ozurumba claims he took the job working as a camp cook in 2022 before finding out that it was run by a separatist group called the Unknown Gunmen. He worked there for about six months, half of which was unpaid, before escaping, he said.

Ozurumba sought asylum in the U.S. after crossing the southern border in July 2023, claiming members of the Unknown Gunmen had threatened to kill him.

An immigration judge initially rejected his asylum claim, finding that Ozurumba had provided material support to the group by cooking three meals a day.

In the coming weeks, they will also decide whether to hear the Trump administration’s appeal seeking to maintain a broad block on asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border.

ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleLawrence HurleyLawrence Hurley is a senior Supreme Court reporter for NBC News.