US deports Afghan woman via new “Alien Terrorist” court
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The US government deported Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan woman and lawful permanent resident, to Afghanistan after presenting her case to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
This court, established by Congress in 1996, had remained unused until Haji Zada’s case. The Department of Justice arrested Haji Zada in 2024 and accused her of aiding a plot for a mass shooting in Oklahoma, though she was never formally charged with a crime.
The DOJ presented evidence to the court alleging Haji Zada helped conceal an ISIL-inspired plot targeting election day in Oklahoma. Her son and son-in-law both accepted guilty pleas on charges related to the same plot. The Alien Terrorist Removal Court operates differently from traditional courts by allowing the government to use classified information while providing the accused with an unclassified summary. Haji Zada waived her right to challenge her detention and subsequent deportation.
Her attorneys argue the court violates due process by withholding key evidence and predict it will be deemed unconstitutional. DOJ officials maintain the deportation demonstrates their commitment to national security and their willingness to utilize all available legal tools.
