Afghan woman deported from US in first use of 'alien terrorist' court, uncharged with crime

An Afghan woman, Nazira Haji Zada, a legal permanent resident of the United States, has been deported from the country in what marks the first-ever application of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC). The 47-year-old, who resided in Fort Worth, Texas, was accused by the Justice Department of supporting an ISIS-inspired plot for a mass shooting planned by her son and son-in-law for Election Day 2024. While her son and son-in-law were convicted of terrorism offenses, Haji Zada herself was never criminally charged.

The Alien Terrorist Removal Court, established by Congress in 1996 to facilitate the deportation of suspected terrorists using classified information, had remained dormant for three decades until this case. Haji Zada conceded to being an "alien terrorist" as part of a plea bargain in August 2026, leading to her deportation and permanent inadmissibility to the U.S.. This specialized court permits the government to pursue deportations with a lower evidentiary standard and by presenting classified evidence that is not fully accessible to the accused or their legal counsel.

Her attorneys, federal public defenders, argued that this process infringed upon her constitutional due process rights by denying access to critical evidence. Despite these concerns, Attorney General Todd Blanche hailed the outcome as a "landmark case" and a victory for national security and the rule of law.