The Trump administration is taking steps to deport Blerim Skoro, who claims to have infiltrated terrorist groups for the CIA after the 9/11 attacks. Skoro, originally from Kosovo, has lived in the U.S. through aiding in the conviction of terrorists. In early August, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended him in New Jersey during a paperwork renewal process.
Skoro’s legal team is contesting his deportation in federal court. They argue that Skoro, 55, was assured residency due to his extensive contributions as a “CIA agent.” As a cab driver residing in Staten Island, New York, with his American spouse and children, Skoro had received a deferral of removal in 2022. This deferral was due to the danger of capture and torture by terrorists if Skoro were deported. His legal team attributes the decision largely to his role in capturing members of al Qaeda, al Shabaab, and Hezbollah.
Now, Skoro fears his deportation will place him in jeopardy back in Kosovo. He holds deep concerns for his safety, stating, “I never thought they were going to betray me like this.” He expressed his wish to remain in the U.S., even in death, so that his children can bury him here.
Skoro’s association with U.S. intelligence reportedly began in 2000 when he was jailed for drug trafficking. He recounts struggling financially while supporting his family after fleeing the Kosovo conflict during the 90s. Caught smuggling heroin for an Albanian gang, he joined a group of Islamic radicals while serving his sentence at Manhattan prison, leading to his collaboration with the CIA post-9/11.
During his incarceration in a federal Pennsylvania prison from 2002 to 2006, Skoro asserts that he provided intelligence on terrorists such as members of the Lackawanna Six and the Virginia jihad network. He further claims he was pivotal in investigations, providing actionable and reliable details, including intelligence regarding a Syrian training camp. Despite expecting a reduced sentence for his contributions, he faced deportation to Kosovo in 2007.
Skoro alleges that the CIA tasked him with penetrating al Qaeda while overseas. From 2007 to 2009, he worked undercover, entering ISIS camps across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, and Egypt. His documented experiences during this time featured in both a 2024 documentary and a YouTube episode of The Shawn Ryan Show.
His involvement reportedly led to the arrest of Brooklyn terrorist Betim Kaziu, who received a 27-year sentence for his role in attempting to arm al Shabaab against U.S. forces. In his 2020 declaration, Skoro shared details of notifying his CIA handler and ultimately facilitating Kaziu’s arrest involving a cache of weapons.
Skoro maintains he thwarted uranium shipments, staving off potential dirty bomb plots, and continued providing critical intelligence post-2015 upon returning to the U.S.
Attorney Joshua Dratel describes Skoro’s decade-long contribution as a testament to a law-abiding, productive life post-trauma. Skoro’s habeas corpus petition substantiates claims of extensive intelligence work and requests to halt the deportation.
Susan Skoro, his wife, recounts the circumstances of his arrest, expressing dismay at the government’s dismissal of his selfless service. Advocating for his pardon, she emphasizes the danger of deporting him anywhere.
Arriving in America in 1994, Skoro initially sought asylum after fleeing from the Yugoslav Army. Following espionage endeavors on behalf of the U.S., he faced a compromised cover, an assassination attempt, and subsequent reentry into the U.S. in 2014.
His entanglement with ICE originated in 2016 after being apprehended for public transit misuse, resulting in a prolonged legal struggle. A 2022 federal ruling restrained his deportation to Kosovo due to potential torture, though it stopped short of granting residency.
Taxi union leader Bhairavi Desai expressed disbelief regarding his precarious legal standing, stating her conviction that his counter-terrorism accomplishments warranted permanent residency.
Earlier this month, Skoro’s legal representatives filed a habeas corpus petition. They argue ICE prematurely pursued deportation without judicial approval, a requirement for protected individuals under the Convention Against Torture. A subsequent deportation of a similar case to Mexico without suitable legal protocols further amplifies the legal implications.
Judge Robert Kirsch mandated a governmental response to the court by Thursday. As of now, neither ICE nor the intelligence entities in question have commented.
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