The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed Friday the deportation of an Afghan woman with permanent residency status, marking the first case processed by the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a tribunal that had remained inactive since its creation in 1996.
Nazira Haji Zada, 47, a resident of Texas, was deported following proceedings in the specialized court designed to handle cases involving immigrants designated as "foreign terrorists." According to the Justice Department, Zada "supported a plan to perpetrate a mass shooting inspired by ISIS on Election Day 2024," a plot for which her son and son-in-law had previously been detained and convicted.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized the case as significant for national security. "This historic case, which resulted in the swift removal of this foreign terrorist to her country of origin, is a victory for national security and the rule of law," Blanche said in a statement.
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court, established three decades ago, applies a specialized procedure directed at immigrants classified as "foreign terrorists," which permits their expulsion under specific legal provisions. The tribunal's activation in Zada's case represents the first time the court has been used since its establishment.