Afghan woman deported in first-ever "Alien Terrorist" court case, DOJ says
An Afghan national who was the first-ever case before the federal Alien Terrorist Removal Court has been deported, the Justice Department announced Friday. The big picture: The DOJ win before the previously dormant court could give the administration a path to remove people it links to terrorism while keeping much of its evidence secret, Axios previously reported. Driving the news: Chief Judge…
An Afghan woman, Nazira Haji Zada, became the first individual to face the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, resulting in her deportation, according to the Justice Department. The government accused Zada of aiding her son and son-in-law in a thwarted 2024 shooting plot, as reported by Axios. Chief Judge Joan Ericksen ordered her removal in an unsealed August 20 order.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) utilized classified information to establish Zada's status as an alien terrorist and that she waived her right to appeal the removal order. Zada's legal team argued the government was breaching her due process rights and withholding evidence, indicating they intended to contest her deportation. This case marks a significant win for national security and the rule of law, stated Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The DOJ filed the initial application in the Alien Terrorist Removal Court in July, with the unclassified summary alleging Zada's support for ISIS and her role in her son and son-in-law's conspiracy. The classified information used to justify her designation as an alien terrorist was kept secret due to potential risks of enabling terrorists and organizations to evade detection or intelligence sources.
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