The Alien Terrorist Removal Court has resurfaced after 30 years, deporting an Afghan woman linked to an ISIS-inspired plot in the U.S.
The Justice Department has filed the first-ever petition to the dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court in 1996 to deport an unidentified individual linked to terrorism; a hearing has been held and additional information is requested as the court considers its path forward.
Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old permanent resident, appears in the Alien Terrorist Removal Court after her relatives were convicted in Oklahoma for an ISIS-inspired plot to attack voters on Election Day 2024. The court, created in 1996, has yet to hear a petition. The government argues she pledged loyalty to ISIS and aided the conspiracy, while her counsel argues the case violates due process.
Nazira Haji Zada, arrested in July in Fort Worth, has waived rights to challenge detention and agreed to be deported. The Alien Terrorist Removal Court’s first case since its 1996 establishment has concluded amid disputed due process claims; the Justice Department characterizes her as an IS supporter connected to a planned 2024 Election Day attack. Authorities say she will be removed to an unspecified location.