U.S. uses dormant court to seek deportation of Afghan woman accused of aiding terror plot
The US government is utilizing the long-dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court to seek the deportation of an Afghan woman accused of supporting an ISIS-inspired terror plot. This marks the first time the court has been used since its establishment in 1996.
Why it matters
The reactivation of this obscure legal mechanism raises significant questions regarding judicial oversight and the scope of executive power in national security cases.
An Afghan woman accused of supporting an Islamic State -inspired plot in the U.S. is the first person facing deportation through the Trump administration's use of an obscure court that remained dormant for 30 years, according to court records filed on Wednesday (July 29, 2026).
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday (July 30, 2026) in Washington, DC, for the government's petition to deport Nazira Haji Zada, of Fort Worth, Texas. Nazira was arrested earlier this week.
A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) memo dated July 15 said it “developed information” that Nazira is an Islamic State supporter who had her children pledge their loyalty to the terrorist group. “Nazira “supported" a plot by relatives to carry out an ISIS-inspired attack in the U.S.,” the memo said.
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