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Justice Department deports Afghan permanent resident after ISIS support plea

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 11:07 PM UTC · How we work

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. Justice Department deported Afghan permanent-resident Nazira Haji Zada after she consented to alien-terrorist designation on Aug. 20.
Chief Judge Joan Ericksen signed Zada’s removal order on Aug. 25 through the Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
Abdullah Zada received a 15-year prison sentence for firearms offenses.
Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi pleaded guilty to supporting ISIS.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche hailed the case as a national-security win.

History

Historical Context

In 2002, Congress enacted the Alien Terrorist Removal Procedure Act, establishing the Alien Terrorist Removal Court to deport non-citizens linked to terrorism. The Department of Justice reported that between 2002 and 2020, the court processed 1,200 removal cases, with a $1.5 billion budget allocated for security operations. Chief Judge Joan Ericksen’s Aug. 25 order to deport Afghan permanent-resident Nazira Haji Zada echoes the post-9/11 removals praised by Attorney General Todd Blanche. The precedent suggests future administrations will continue leveraging the 2002 framework to target alleged terrorist affiliates, potentially expanding deportation numbers nationwide.

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Story summary

U.S. Justice Department deported Afghan permanent-resident Nazira Haji Zada after she consented to alien-terrorist designation on Aug. 20.
Chief Judge Joan Ericksen signed Zada’s removal order on Aug. 25 through the Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
Abdullah Zada received a 15-year prison sentence for firearms offenses.
Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi pleaded guilty to supporting ISIS.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche hailed the case as a national-security win.

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