Afghan Woman Deported After First Case in Long-Dormant Terrorism Court

An Afghan woman has been deported from the United States after her case became the first to go before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, an unusual court that had been inactive for a long time, officials said.

The woman, Nazira Haji Zada, is 47. She was arrested in July at her home in Fort Worth, Texas. The Justice Department asked the court to order her deportation from the United States.

The department accused Haji Zada of supporting a plot inspired by the Islamic State group. The supplied reports do not describe a conviction. They report that the court’s chief judge issued an order that allowed the government to expel her.

The case brought attention to a court that had rarely been used. Its first known case in a long period raised questions about why the government chose this process for Haji Zada’s removal.

Officials have now confirmed that she has been deported. The reports do not provide further details about where she was sent or describe what happened after her removal.

It is also not clear whether the administration plans to bring more cases before the court. The New York Times reported that the government had successfully obtained the chief judge’s order, but said its future use remained uncertain.

The case shows how the Justice Department can use a special legal process in a terrorism-related deportation matter. It also leaves open questions about how often this court may be used in the future.