The Justice Department deported Nazira Haji Zada to Afghanistan after bringing her removal case before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court — the first use of the specialised tribunal in decades. Haji Zada, a 47‑year‑old lawful permanent resident from Fort Worth arrested in 2024, was accused of helping conceal an ISIL‑inspired Oklahoma mass‑shooting plot; she was not criminally charged. Her son and son‑in‑law pleaded guilty to related charges. Defence attorneys say withholding classified evidence violates due process, while the DOJ hailed the deportation as a national security success.
US Deports Afghan Woman in First Use of Alien Terrorist Removal Court
The US Department of Justice logo [File: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP]
The Justice Department has deported Nazira Haji Zada to Afghanistan after bringing her case before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court — the first time the specialised tribunal has been used in decades.
Haji Zada, 47, a lawful permanent resident who had been living in Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested in 2024. U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche filed formal removal papers on July 15. She waived her rights to contest detention and agreed to removal; she was never criminally charged.
Allegations and Related Proceedings
The Department of Justice says Haji Zada helped conceal an ISIL‑inspired plan for a mass shooting in Oklahoma on election day in 2024. Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and her son‑in‑law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, have pleaded guilty to charges connected to the plot.
What Is the Alien Terrorist Removal Court?
Congress created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court in 1996 as a specialised federal forum to remove non‑citizens the government designates as "alien terrorists" while protecting sensitive national‑security information. The panel is composed of five federal judges serving staggered five‑year terms. The process allows the government to submit classified evidence in closed sessions, while the court must approve an unclassified summary the accused can use to prepare a defence. Under the statute the government must meet a stringent burden of proof to establish that an individual is an "alien terrorist."
Reactions and Legal Concerns
Attorney General Todd Blanche: "Those who support and condone terrorism should not be living in the United States. This case demonstrates that the Department will use every tool at its disposal to protect the country."
Haji Zada's lawyers said her consent to removal "should not be seen as an endorsement of this court's legitimacy." They argue that bringing lawful permanent residents before a tribunal while withholding the underlying evidence violates due process and predicted the court will ultimately be found unconstitutional once a judge addresses the issue.
It remains uncertain whether the Justice Department will pursue additional cases through the rarely used court.
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