Afghan woman deported from US in first use of secretive terrorism court - Reuters

An Afghan woman who had been accused of supporting the Islamic State has been deported from the United States. The removal marks the first time the U.S. Department of Justice has pursued a case through a little‑known court that was established three decades ago to deport individuals designated as “alien terrorists.”

The court, created about 30 years ago, was designed to handle cases involving non‑citizens alleged to be involved in terrorist activities. It operates with a high degree of secrecy, and its proceedings are not open to the public. Until now, the court had not been used to carry out a deportation.

U.S. officials said the woman’s alleged ties to the Islamic State formed the basis for the removal order. Details of the evidence and the specific allegations were not disclosed, reflecting the confidential nature of the court’s process.

The deportation was carried out after the court issued an order authorising the removal. The woman was transferred out of the United States in accordance with that order, concluding the first case of its kind to be handled by the alien‑terrorist removal mechanism.

The use of this court underscores the government’s willingness to employ longstanding but rarely invoked legal tools in its counter‑terrorism efforts, while also highlighting the limited public visibility of such proceedings.