Full Breakdown
U.S. Uses Dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court to Deport Afghan Permanent Resident
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: First Deportation Under the Alien Terrorist Removal Court
Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan permanent resident of Fort Worth, Texas, was removed from the United States after she consented to be classified as an “alien terrorist” and waived her right to appeal. The removal was ordered by the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), a federal tribunal created by Congress in 1996 but never previously employed. The Justice Department announced the deportation on September 11, 2026.
Background & Context
The ATRC was established to allow the government to deport non-citizens when the evidence supporting removal is classified and cannot be disclosed in ordinary immigration courts. The court permits the use of secret evidence, denies defendants the ability to review that evidence, and does not allow challenges to how the evidence was obtained. Prior to Zada’s case, the court remained unused for three decades.
Timeline
- July 30, 2026 – Haji Zada appeared before the ATRC with two federal public defenders and agreed to the government’s characterization of her as an alien terrorist.
- August 2026 – The court issued an order of removal (the exact day not disclosed in public records).
- September 11, 2026 – The Justice Department confirmed that Haji Zada had been deported to Afghanistan and barred from re-entering the United States.
Data & Statistics
- The Justice Department provided Haji Zada’s lawyers with roughly half a terabyte of classified documents to support its allegation.
- Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, received a 15-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty as an adult.
- Her son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offenses in June 2025 and is awaiting sentencing.
- Haji Zada herself has never been charged with a criminal offense.
Official Statements & Responses
Chief Judge Joan Ericksen signed the final removal order after the court’s determination that the government had met its burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence.
Criticism & Opposition
Public defender Matthew Farley, who represented Haji Zada, argued that the secretive nature of the ATRC “violates due process” because defendants cannot review the classified evidence used against them. Farley warned that the court’s procedures could be deemed unconstitutional if challenged before a judge.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This landmark case, resulting in the prompt removal of this alien terrorist to her country of origin, is a win for national security and the rule of law,” — Attorney General Todd Blanche
What’s Next
The Justice Department has not indicated whether it will pursue additional cases before the ATRC, but officials noted that the court’s authority remains available for future removals involving classified national-security information.