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Afghan woman deported via first use of U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court
The U.S. Department of Justice has completed the first-ever deportation through the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), a specialized federal tribunal established in 1996 that had remained dormant for nearly three decades. The individual deported is Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan national and former lawful permanent resident of Fort Worth, Texas.
Zada was accused of supporting an ISIS-inspired plot to carry out a mass shooting during the 2024 U.S. Election Day. While she was never formally charged with a crime, the government alleged she helped conceal the plans of her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi. Both men were previously convicted in connection with the conspiracy; Abdullah was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
According to court documents, Zada conceded she was an “alien terrorist” and waived her right to appeal the removal order. The ATRC is designed to allow the government to use classified evidence in deportation proceedings when national security is at stake, a process that prevents defendants from reviewing the specific evidence used against them.
Defense attorneys have criticized the court, arguing that its secretive procedures violate due process rights for lawful permanent residents. Attorney General Todd Blanche described the case as a “win for national security and the rule of law,” marking a significant use of specialized legal tools by the administration.
Entities
Abdullah Haji Zada · Alien Terrorist Removal Court · Department of Justice · Donald Trump · Joan Ericksen · Justice Department · Kash Patel · Nazira Haji Zada · Todd Blanche · U.S. Department of Justice
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 17 SOURCES] Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan national, was deported to Afghanistan. dailynewslb.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · ca.news.yahoo.com · www.ntd.com · thefrontierpost.com · +12 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] Haji Zada conceded she was an 'alien terrorist' and waived her right to appeal the removal order. dailynewslb.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · ca.news.yahoo.com · time.news · freerepublic.com · +6 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] The U.S. government completed the first-ever deportation through the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC). dailynewslb.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · ca.news.yahoo.com · www.ntd.com · thefrontierpost.com · +12 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] Haji Zada was accused of supporting her son and son-in-law in a foiled ISIS-inspired mass shooting plot for Election Day 2024. ca.news.yahoo.com · www.ntd.com · time.news · www.n-tv.de · dailynewslb.com · +9 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] The ATRC was established by Congress in 1996 but had not been used for a deportation until this case. dailynewslb.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · ca.news.yahoo.com · time.news · legalinsurrection.com · +6 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Defense lawyers argued that the court's secretive procedures violate due process rights. dailynewslb.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · legalinsurrection.com · www.al-monitor.com · srnnews.com · +2 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The ATRC allows the government to use classified evidence in deportation proceedings. dailynewslb.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · ca.news.yahoo.com · legalinsurrection.com · see.mv · +4 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Haji Zada's son, Abdullah Haji Zada, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. www.ntd.com · www.n-tv.de · bhaskarlive.in · americanbazaaronline.com