DOJ announces first-ever deportation under Alien Terrorist Removal Court

What This is

• The Justice Department says it used the rarely used Alien Terrorist Removal Court to deport Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan green-card holder living in Texas.
• Officials say this was the first case ever resolved in the court, which Congress created in 1996 but had not been used before now.
• The court is designed to let the government rely on classified evidence without making it public, which meant parts of the case were handled in closed or sealed proceedings.
• DOJ alleges she supported or encouraged an Islamic State (ISIS)-inspired plot tied to her son and son-in-law, who were convicted or pleaded guilty in connection with a foiled 2024 mass-shooting plan.
• DOJ and some accounts say she agreed to deportation and conceded the “alien terrorist” designation rather than keep fighting the case.
• The Justice Department says she was deported on Aug. 25, while other officials did not immediately disclose the exact timing or destination of the removal.

Why This Matters

• Using a court built around secret evidence raises hard questions about how to balance national security against a person’s ability to see and challenge the case against them.
• If the government uses this court more often, it could reshape how the U.S. removes noncitizens accused of terrorism, especially when evidence is classified.
• The case tests how much legal protection green-card holders have when the government seeks to take away their right to live in the U.S.
• Public trust in immigration enforcement may be affected, depending on whether people see the process as fair and transparent or as closed and one-sided.