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Afghan woman becomes first deportation case under US terrorism court

A specialized U.S. immigration court created nearly three decades ago has been activated for the first time to remove an Afghan national. The Alien Terrorist Removal Court, established in 1996, had remained unused until the recent case of Nazira Haji Zada.

LSN World News · 12 September 2026

Afghan woman becomes first deportation case under US terrorism court

The U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a legal mechanism dormant since its creation in 1996, has been invoked for the first time to effectuate the deportation of an Afghan woman. The specialized court, created as part of counterterrorism legislation, had never been utilized in its 27-year existence prior to the proceedings against Nazira Haji Zada.

The activation of this rarely-used legal tool underscores evolving approaches to immigration enforcement and national security concerns. The court was designed to handle cases involving terrorism-related allegations within the immigration system, operating under distinct procedural rules separate from standard removal proceedings.

Details regarding the specific circumstances that triggered the invocation of this court mechanism remain limited. The case marks a significant departure from standard immigration proceedings and reflects heightened scrutiny of security protocols in deportation matters.

The Alien Terrorist Removal Court represents one of several specialized legal frameworks within the U.S. immigration system intended to address security concerns. Its activation in Zada's case signals a potential shift in how authorities handle certain removal cases, though the broader implications of this legal precedent remain to be seen.