Afghan woman deported under US Alien Terrorist Removal Court in historic first case
Nazira Haji Zada, 47, was deported to Afghanistan after the US invoked a court created in 1996 to remove "alien terrorists" — for the first time ever.
Afghan woman first to be deported under long-dormant US terrorism removal court
An Afghan woman accused of supporting ISIL has been deported from the United States in the first case ever brought before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a specialised federal court created 30 years ago but never previously used, aljazeera.com reports.
The US Department of Justice announced on Friday that Nazira Haji Zada, 47, a lawful permanent resident who had been living in Fort Worth, Texas, was deported to Afghanistan after proceedings before the court. US Attorney General Todd Blanche filed the removal papers on 15 July. Haji Zada subsequently waived her rights to contest her detention and was deported.
The DOJ alleged she helped conceal an ISIL-inspired plot for a mass shooting in Oklahoma on election day in 2024. She was never charged with a criminal offence. Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, both pleaded guilty to related charges.
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was established by Congress in 1996 as part of a broader counter-terrorism legislative effort. It consists of five federal judges serving staggered five-year terms. The court permits the government to submit classified evidence in cases where disclosure could threaten national security, while requiring an unclassified summary deemed sufficient for the accused to mount a defence. The government must demonstrate through strong evidence that the individual qualifies as an "alien terrorist".
DOJ officials described the outcome as a national security victory. "Those who support and condone terrorism should not be living in the United States," Attorney General Blanche said, adding that the department would use "every tool at its disposal" to protect the country.
Haji Zada's defence attorneys pushed back sharply. They said her decision to consent to removal "should not be seen as an endorsement of this court's legitimacy." In a written statement, the lawyers described the proceedings as a violation of due process. "Dragging lawful permanent residents into court but refusing to show them or their attorneys the evidence that will be used against them is a plain violation of due process," they said. "We are confident that the Alien Terrorist Removal Court will be struck down as unconstitutional as soon as a judge is asked to address the issue."
It remains unclear whether the DOJ intends to bring further cases through the previously unused court.
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)