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Nazira Haji Zada faces first-ever Alien Terrorist Removal Court hearing as the administration tests new deportation strategy

The administration announced the first-ever hearing of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court to deport Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan woman and legal permanent resident living in Texas. The Justice Department alleges that Haji Zada, who has no criminal history, helped radicalize her family and pledged loyalty to ISIS, contributing to a thwarted mass casualty attack plot planned for the 2024 election. Public defender Matthew Farley argued that the court's procedure is unconstitutional and violates due process, calling it a "runaround" to avoid traditional criminal proceedings. Because much of the evidence against Haji Zada is classified for national security reasons, she is not permitted to review the secret information. Judge Joan Ericksen, the chief judge of the court, acknowledged that the procedures are untested after being dormant for 30 years. While she denied an immediate request to release Haji Zada, she committed to ensuring the government provides a clear rationale for any information withheld from the public and the defendant. The court is currently establishing its infrastructure, including an electronic filing system.

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