Afghan woman deported after brief Alien Terrorist Removal Court hearing

Nazira Haji Zada was taken into custody in July at her residence in Fort Worth, Texas, on accusations of supporting an Islamic State-inspired scheme. She was brought before the little-used Alien Terrorist Removal Court after the Justice Department filed a removal request. On Friday, she voluntarily waived all procedural defenses and consented to deportation, though the destination and timing remain undisclosed.

The court, established in 1996 and previously inactive, concluded the case without a protracted hearing. The Justice Department described Haji Zada as a supporter of the Islamic State and noted her familial ties to two Afghan men sentenced in Oklahoma for planning an attack on Election Day 2024. Her attorneys had sought access to evidence, but the swift agreement preempted further litigation.