Afghan woman plans to fight DOJ efforts to deport her over allegation she is an "alien terrorist"

Key Points:

• The Alien Terrorist Removal Court, established in 1996 but never before convened, held its first hearing to consider the deportation of Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan woman and U.S. permanent resident accused by the Justice Department of being an "alien terrorist."
• Haji Zada's court-appointed lawyer argued that the process violates due process rights and is unconstitutional, criticizing the court's reliance on classified evidence and a lower evidentiary standard compared to criminal cases.
• The government alleges Haji Zada radicalized family members, including her son and son-in-law, who were convicted of terrorism-related offenses linked to an alleged Islamic State plot targeting the 2024 election.
• The court faces logistical challenges, lacking an electronic filing system and dealing with procedural issues, while the judge emphasized the need for defense counsel to access classified evidence and for the government to justify any withheld information.
• The case raises significant legal questions about the balance between national security and individual rights, as Haji Zada's attorney vows to vigorously contest the deportation efforts in this unprecedented legal setting.