For the first time in 30 years, a secretive federal court ordered someone deported using classified evidence that the public could not see.
Story Snapshot
- The Justice Department used the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC) for the first time.
- Chief Judge Joan Ericksen ordered the removal of Nazira Haji Zada.
- Congress created the ATRC in 1996 to handle cases using classified evidence.
- The case tests how the government balances secrecy with due process.
What Happened In The First ATRC Case
The Department of Justice announced the first-ever case in the United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court. Officials named the respondent as Nazira Haji Zada, age 47, who lived in Fort Worth, Texas. The department sought her removal under a law that allows the use of classified evidence in court. The Justice Department said this special court had never been used since it was created in 1996. The filing and first hearing took place in July 2026, under Chief Judge Joan Ericksen.
Chief Judge Joan Ericksen later directed Haji Zada’s removal. News reports said she was a lawful permanent resident and that the order completed the first removal ever through this court. The Justice Department confirmed the deportation in September 2026. This marked the court’s first final action after decades of dormancy. It also moved the debate over secret evidence and national security out of theory and into a real case with real stakes.
Why This Court Exists And How It Works
Congress created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court as part of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act in 1996. Lawmakers wanted a way to use sensitive intelligence to deport noncitizens who are alleged “alien terrorists” without exposing sources and methods. The law allows the judge to review classified material in private and under seal. The Congressional Research Service explains that the judge “shall examine” such evidence ex parte and in camera.
The court is an Article Three federal court, with judges named by the Chief Justice of the United States. It was built to handle a narrow type of case. For years, officials did not use it, likely because classified evidence can be hard to fit with normal defense rights. The Brennan Center notes the 2026 filing is the first real-world test of a tool designed three decades ago, showing the long struggle to balance secrecy and fairness in immigration tied to terrorism claims.
What The Government And The Public Get—And Give Up
Using the ATRC gives the government speed and protection of intelligence. Officials can present sensitive facts without risking sources. Supporters say this protects the country and avoids tipping off networks. Critics worry that a person may not see or challenge the core evidence. CNN reported the respondent is also challenging the court’s process, setting up a fight over the limits of this system. That test could define how future cases work.
JUST IN: DOJ Secures Deportation of ISIS Terrorist in First Ever Use of Alien Terrorist Removal Court https://t.co/GwxUkS6iDn
— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) September 11, 2026
The first case lands in a tense moment. Voters across the spectrum feel the system is not working for them. Many worry about safety, border control, and fairness in court. This ruling shows the government reaching for a rarely used tool to act fast. The core question is whether that tool guards both security and due process. The next steps in court, and in Congress if it chooses to review the law, will shape that answer for years.
Sources:
pjmedia.com, justice.gov, npr.org, politico.com, newsmax.com, justsecurity.org, scholarship.law.gwu.edu
