US uses dormant terror court for first deportation of Afghan national

The U.S. government has for the first time used the Alien Terrorist Removal Court to deport an individual, removing an Afghan national who admitted to being a terrorist and supported a foiled plot to attack the United States. The Department of Justice announced the historic action on Friday, September 11, 2026, following the unsealing of court documents related to the case. Nazira Haji Zada, 47, a former resident of Fort Worth, Texas, was deported to Afghanistan in late August after conceding in court that she was an alien terrorist and waiving her right to appeal. The Alien Terrorist Removal Court issued its order for her removal on August 20. Officials stated she was deported on August 25, though one source indicated August 26. The case marks the first use of the specialized court, which was established by Congress in 1996 to handle deportation proceedings involving classified evidence. No previous administration had brought a case before it in its 30-year history. Attorney General Todd Blanche called the outcome "a win for national security and the rule of law," adding that the department will use every tool at its disposal to protect the country.