US Justice Department activates Alien Terrorist Removal Court for first time

Published Aug 5, 07:14 PM UTC

The US Justice Department has activated the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, established in 1996 but never used until now, to deport Nazira Haji Zada, a legal permanent resident from Afghanistan accused of ISIS sympathies and involvement in a thwarted 2024 election terror plot. The specialized court, composed of five federal judges, allows deportation under a lower evidentiary standard than criminal conviction. Zada's lawyers are challenging the court's constitutionality, arguing it violates due process by allowing the government to withhold classified evidence from the accused. The case could set up a lengthy legal battle potentially reaching the Supreme Court. Prior administrations avoided using this court, relying on standard deportation procedures. The DOJ has stated it will use all available tools to remove alien terrorists, while critics question the limited evidence provided against Zada.