Afghan woman deported from US in first use of ‘alien terrorist’ court

An Afghan woman, Nazira Haji Zada, residing in Texas with lawful US permanent residency, has been deported from the United States. This marks the first-ever use of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), a secretive court established in 1996. Mrs. Zada opted to leave the US rather than continue her case before the ATRC, as reported by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and her legal representatives.

The ATRC is intended for non-US citizens who face terrorism-related charges, especially when the evidence is confidential and relates to national security. Haji Zada's lawyers contended that her case contravened her right to due process as per the US Constitution. Although she was never charged with a crime, her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhed, were convicted for plotting a mass shooting on Election Day in 2024, inspired by the Islamic State group.

The DOJ stated that Mrs. Zada admitted to being an "alien terrorist" and waived her right to appeal the removal order, which promptly ended her previous immigration status. US Attorney General Todd Blanche hailed this case as a victory for national security and the rule of law. However, Haji Zada's legal team argued that the court's legitimacy was questioned due to the lack of transparency in the proceedings.

They emphasized that forcing lawful permanent residents into court without revealing the evidence against them breaches due process. They expressed confidence that the ATRC would be deemed unconstitutional.