Afghan woman deported from US in first use of 'alien terrorist' court

September 12, 2026

An Afghan woman with legal permanent US residency was deported from Texas after appearing before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, marking the first time this secretive tribunal has been used since its creation in 1996. Nazira Haji Zada agreed to leave the country rather than continue fighting charges that she radicalized her family members, including her son and son-in-law who were convicted of planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting for Election Day 2024. The court operates using classified evidence in terrorism cases, which her attorneys were not allowed to see, raising constitutional concerns about due process violations.

Who is affected

Nazira Haji Zada (47-year-old Afghan woman and legal US permanent resident deported from Fort Worth, Texas)
Abdullah Haji Zada (her son, convicted of terrorism plot)
Nasir Ahmad Tawhed (her son-in-law, convicted of terrorism plot)
Her court-appointed lawyers: Matthew Farley and Mary Manning Petras
Non-US citizens facing potential terrorism-related charges with classified evidence

What action is being taken

No ongoing actions are explicitly described in the article. The deportation has already been completed, and the court case has concluded with Haji Zada's consent to removal.

Why it matters

This case establishes a precedent as the first-ever use of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court since its creation in 1996, demonstrating the government's willingness to utilize secretive legal mechanisms for national security cases. The proceedings raise significant constitutional questions about due process rights, as the accused and their attorneys cannot access the classified evidence used against them. This sets a concerning legal precedent for how lawful permanent residents can be removed from the country on terrorism-related grounds without traditional criminal proceedings or access to evidence, potentially affecting how future cases involving national security and immigration will be handled.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC