First-Ever Alien Terrorist Removal Court Deports Afghan Woman

You have a green card. You have lived in the United States for years. Then federal agents show up — not with a standard immigration notice, but with a classified court order from a court most Americans have never heard of. That is what happened to Nazira Haji Zada, 47, an Afghan national who had been living in Fort Worth, Texas as a lawful permanent resident (LPR — someone with a green card).

In September 2026, the Justice Department announced that Haji Zada had been removed from the United States after a proceeding before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC) — a specialized federal court that Congress created in 1996 but that no previous administration had ever used. The removal order was signed on August 20, 2026 by ATRC Chief Judge Joan N. Ericksen, and unsealed after Haji Zada was returned to Afghanistan. Attorney General Todd Blanche certified the original application, which was filed on July 15, 2026. Haji Zada appeared in open court for the first time on July 30, 2026. She conceded that she is an alien terrorist, waived her right to appeal, and her lawful permanent resident status was terminated. She is now permanently inadmissible to the United States.

What the ATRC Is — and Why It Matters for Immigrants

The ATRC is a federal court staffed by Article III judges — the same type of judges who sit on regular federal district courts — appointed to the ATRC by the Chief Justice of the United States. The court can use classified information that is not disclosed publicly if doing so would risk national security. At the same time, the law requires the government to provide the person being removed with paid legal counsel if needed. Haji Zada was represented by two federal public defenders and received roughly half a terabyte of documents supporting the government's case. The court's jurisdiction is narrow: it applies only when the government proves by a preponderance of the evidence (meaning more likely than not) that a person is an alien terrorist under federal law.

The underlying facts are serious. Haji Zada's son Abdullah, who was 17 at the time, and her son-in-law Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 28, were arrested on October 7, 2024, after purchasing firearms and ammunition from an undercover FBI employee for a planned mass-casualty attack on Election Day 2024, inspired by ISIS. Abdullah pleaded guilty as an adult and was sentenced to 15 years in prison; his plea agreement also included a judicial order of removal to Afghanistan after his sentence. Tawhedi pleaded guilty in June 2025 to two terrorism-related offenses and was awaiting sentencing as of the announcement. Court documents show the family sold furniture, vehicles, computers, and the family home to fund the plot, and purchased one-way tickets to Kabul for family members — but not for Abdullah and Tawhedi.

What to Do If You Are a Green Card Holder Facing Removal Proceedings

• If you receive any notice from immigration authorities or a federal court, do not ignore it and do not sign anything without speaking to an immigration attorney first. Even a waiver of appeal — as Haji Zada signed — is permanent and eliminates your right to challenge the decision.
• Know that lawful permanent residents (green card holders) do have rights in removal proceedings, including the right to a hearing and, in standard immigration court, the right to present evidence and appeal. The ATRC is a narrow exception that applies only in terrorism-related cases certified by the Attorney General.
• If you are in standard removal proceedings (immigration court), you have the right to hire an attorney at your own expense. Contact a licensed immigration lawyer or a nonprofit legal aid organization as soon as you receive any court notice.
• Keep records of all your immigration documents — your green card, visa history, travel records, and any correspondence with USCIS or immigration courts. These are critical if you need to defend your status.

A full breakdown of this topic — in our guide “Appealing to the BIA”.