Immigration lawyer Alastair McClymont says moves to deport Ahamed Samsudeen could well have given him new grounds to claim refugee status.
McClymont said if he was to be sent back to Sri Lanka, the authorities there would be told and that would open up the possibility for arrest and interrogation.
Samsudeen was behind an attack at Countdown New Lynn on Friday, where he took a knife from the shelf and started stabbing people nearby.
Seven people were injured and Samsudeen was fatally shot by police.
McClymont said even if the terrorist's refugee status had been revoked due to fraudulent claims, it would not have brought an end to his presence here.
