U.S. Deports Afghan Green Card Holder in First Use of Secret Alien Terrorist Court
The United States deported Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan lawful permanent resident of Texas, in the first-ever use of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a secretive tribunal created in 1996. She was never criminally charged but conceded to being an alien terrorist after prosecutors alleged she supported an ISIS-inspired Election Day 2024 mass shooting plot by her son and son-in-law, who pleaded guilty. Attorney General Todd Blanche called it a national security win, while her lawyers argued the classified-evidence process violates due process and is likely unconstitutional.
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DOJ Deports Green Card Holder Using Alien Terrorist Removal Court for First Time
Attorney General Todd Blanche invoked the Alien Terrorist Removal Act for the first time to deport Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan lawful permanent resident from Fort Worth, Texas, back to Afghanistan. The Justice Department stated she conceded to being an alien terrorist and was the 'matriarch' who supported an ISIS-inspired Election Day 2024 mass shooting plot. Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, pleaded guilty to attempting to buy AK-47-style rifles and ammunition from an undercover FBI agent for an attack in Oklahoma. Abdullah was sentenced to 15 years; Tawhedi awaits sentencing. Investigators noted Haji Zada had no knowledge of their plans. The Alien Terrorist Removal Court, created after the 1996 Oklahoma City bombing, allows removal based on a 'preponderance of evidence' rather than 'beyond a reasonable doubt.' The DOJ reportedly refused to show classified evidence to her attorneys, who called the process a violation of due process and expect the decision to be rejected as unconstitutional.
Read sourceAfghan woman deported from US in first use of secretive alien terrorist court
Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan woman and legal US permanent resident living in Texas, has been deported in the first-ever use of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), created in 1996 but never previously convened. She chose to leave the US rather than continue contesting the case, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and her lawyers. Haji Zada was never charged with a crime, but prosecutors accused her of being the 'matriarch' of a family plot inspired by the Islamic State group, after her son and son-in-law were convicted of planning a mass shooting on Election Day 2024. The DOJ stated she conceded she is an 'alien terrorist' and waived appeal. US Attorney General Todd Blanche called the case 'a win for national security and the rule of law.' Her court-appointed lawyers argued the proceedings violated her constitutional right to due process, as they were denied access to the evidence, and expressed confidence the ATRC will be struck down as unconstitutional when challenged.
Afghan woman deported from US in first use of secretive alien terrorist court
Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan woman and legal US permanent resident living in Fort Worth, Texas, has been deported in the first-ever use of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), created in 1996. She chose to leave the US rather than continue her case before the secretive court, which handles non-US citizens facing terrorism-related charges with confidential national security evidence. Haji Zada was never charged with a crime, but prosecutors accused her of being the 'matriarch' of a family plot inspired by the Islamic State group; her son and son-in-law were convicted of planning a mass shooting on Election Day 2024. The US Department of Justice stated she conceded she is an 'alien terrorist' and waived appeal. Attorney General Todd Blanche called the case 'a win for national security.' Her court-appointed lawyers argued the proceedings violated due process, as they were denied access to the evidence, and expressed confidence the ATRC will be struck down as unconstitutional.
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Afghan woman deported from US in first use of secretive alien terrorist court
Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan woman and legal US permanent resident living in Fort Worth, Texas, has been deported in the first-ever use of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, created in 1996 but never previously used. She chose to leave the US rather than continue her case, according to the Department of Justice and her lawyers. Haji Zada was never charged with a crime, but prosecutors accused her of being the 'matriarch' of a family plot inspired by the Islamic State group, after her son and son-in-law were convicted of planning a mass shooting on Election Day 2024. The DOJ stated she 'conceded that she is an alien terrorist and waived appeal.' Attorney General Todd Blanche called the case 'a win for national security.' Her court-appointed lawyers argued the proceedings violated due process, as they were denied access to evidence, and expressed confidence the court will be struck down as unconstitutional.
U.S. Deports Afghan Woman in First Use of Secret Terrorism Court for Deportation
The United States has deported Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan woman and lawful permanent resident of Texas, marking the first use of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a secretive tribunal established by Congress in 1996 but never previously used. The Justice Department alleged she helped conceal an attempted mass shooting plot inspired by Islamic State targeting Election Day 2024. She was never criminally charged, but her son and son-in-law pleaded guilty to related charges. Haji Zada agreed not to contest her case and was deported after Chief Judge Joan Ericksen approved the removal. Attorney General Todd Blanche called the case a victory for national security and the rule of law. Her public defender, Matthew Farley, stated that the agreement should not be seen as an endorsement of the court's legitimacy, arguing that using classified evidence without allowing defendants or their attorneys to review it violates due process and that the court will likely be found unconstitutional.