Story perspectives

DOJ deports Afghan permanent resident in first Alien Terrorist case

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 3:08 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Justice Department deported Afghan permanent resident Nazira Haji Zada in the first Alien Terrorist Removal Court case.
Attorney General Todd Blanche filed removal papers on July 15, 2026.
Zada waived her right to appeal, consented to removal, and lost lawful permanent-resident status.
Zada’s son Abdullah Haji Zada received a 15-year prison sentence for an ISIS-inspired plot.
The DOJ provided Zada’s lawyers with half a terabyte of classified documents as evidence.

History

Historical Context

In response to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, Congress enacted the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act in 1996—approved 91-8 in the Senate—establishing the Alien Terrorist Removal Court that began processing cases in the early 2000s. In July 2026 Attorney General Todd Blanche sought removal of Afghan resident Nazira Haji Zada, reigniting AEDPA’s due-process debate and prompting amendment proposals.

1 of 2

Story summary

U.S. Justice Department deported Afghan permanent resident Nazira Haji Zada in the first Alien Terrorist Removal Court case.
Attorney General Todd Blanche filed removal papers on July 15, 2026.
Zada waived her right to appeal, consented to removal, and lost lawful permanent-resident status.
Zada’s son Abdullah Haji Zada received a 15-year prison sentence for an ISIS-inspired plot.
The DOJ provided Zada’s lawyers with half a terabyte of classified documents as evidence.

1 / 2