Afghan woman deported in first use of US Alien Terrorist Removal Court
Court was created in 1996, but had never been used before Nazira Haji Zada’s case.
An Afghan woman accused of supporting the ISIL (ISIS) armed group has been deported from the United States in the first case brought before an obscure and long-dormant court created 30 years ago to remove people classified by the government as “alien terrorists”.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday that Nazira Haji Zada was deported to Afghanistan after being brought before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
The 47-year-old lawful permanent resident, who had been living in Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested in 2024. US Attorney General Todd Blanche filed the papers for her removal on July 15 this year. She waived her rights to challenge her detention and was subsequently deported to Afghanistan.
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was created by Congress in 1996 as part of a broader effort to combat international terrorism. It is a specialised US federal court made up of five judges serving staggered five-year terms. It allows the US government to submit classified information in cases where disclosure could threaten national security, while requiring an unclassified summary that the court determines is sufficient for the accused to prepare a defence. The government must prove with strong evidence that the person is an “alien terrorist”.