Afghan woman dubbed an “alien terrorist” deported in obscure court’s first case

An Afghan permanent resident in Texas, Nazira Haji Zada, has been deported after the Justice Department labeled her an “alien terrorist,” marking the first case of its kind. Haji Zada chose to leave the U.S. instead of continuing her case in the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, which was established in 1996 to deport noncitizens when classified information prevents traditional legal proceedings. Her public defenders argued that the court’s secretive nature violated her rights, as she couldn’t review the evidence against her. Although never charged with a crime, Haji Zada was linked to her son and son-in-law’s ISIS-inspired plot for a mass shooting in 2024. The Justice Department claimed she supported and tried to radicalize them. Attorney General Todd Blanche hailed the case as a victory for national security, emphasizing the importance of removing those who support terrorism from the U.S. QUESTION: How might the use of classified evidence in legal proceedings impact the rights of individuals accused of terrorism?