Afghan woman deported in first use of US Alien Terrorist Removal Court

What the report says

The US Department of Justice says an Afghan woman, Nazira Haji Zada, has been deported to Afghanistan in the first case ever brought under the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a specialized federal court created by Congress in 1996 but long unused. Al Jazeera, citing the DOJ and court filings, reported that Haji Zada, 47, had been living in Fort Worth, Texas, and was a lawful permanent resident before her arrest in 2024.

According to the report, Attorney General Todd Blanche filed removal papers on July 15, and Haji Zada later waived her right to challenge her detention. The DOJ accused her of helping conceal an ISIL-inspired plot for a mass shooting in Oklahoma on election day in 2024. She was not charged with a crime, though her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, reportedly pleaded guilty in related proceedings.

The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was created to handle cases involving classified evidence while still requiring an unclassified summary for the accused. Supporters of the process describe it as a national security tool, while defense lawyers argue that using it against lawful permanent residents without fully disclosing evidence raises due process concerns and could face constitutional challenge. The case is notable because it is the first known use of a court that had existed for decades without being activated, and it may indicate whether US authorities plan to use it again.