Afghan Woman Deported Using Obscure "Alien Terrorist" Court
The Justice Department said Friday it deported Haji Zada after she waived her right to challenge the removal order. Her case was the first petition ever filed with the Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
- 47 years old, Haji Zada was arrested in July at her Fort Worth, Texas home.
- The court was established in 1996 but had received no petitions until July 2025.
- Her son received a 15-year sentence for obtaining firearms to support a terrorist organization.
- The Justice Department said it shared half a terabyte of documents with her lawyers.
Why it matters: The court allows the government to deport accused terrorists when classified evidence cannot be disclosed in standard immigration proceedings. Targets, including lawful permanent residents, cannot review that classified evidence and cannot challenge how it was collected.
- Haji Zada had never been charged with a crime.
- Her deportation averts a ruling on the court's constitutionality, leaving the legal questions unresolved.
How 35 sources split on this story
Where they split: The government calls the outcome a national security win; Haji Zada's lawyers say her consent was not an endorsement of the court's legitimacy and that its procedures violate due process.
Center coverage, 10 sources: The center presents both the government's national security rationale and the defense's due process objections without foregrounding either.
Left coverage, 9 sources: The left emphasizes the court's secrecy, the absence of criminal charges against Haji Zada, and unresolved constitutional questions about due process for lawful permanent residents.
What’s next: Her lawyers said they are confident the court will be struck down as unconstitutional once directly challenged.
- Her son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, has pleaded guilty but has not yet been sentenced.
- To which country was Haji Zada deported, and when exactly did removal occur?
- Will the Justice Department bring additional cases before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court?
- Will a future case produce a judicial ruling on the court's constitutionality?
