The U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), established by Congress 30 years ago, has been used for the first time to deport an Afghan national accused of supporting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting plot targeting Election Day 2024.
Nazira Haji Zada, 47, was deported to Afghanistan after admitting to being an "alien terrorist" and waiving her right to appeal within the ATRC, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
"This landmark case, resulting in the prompt removal of this alien terrorist to her country of origin, is a win for national security and the rule of law," Attorney General Todd Blanche stated. "Those who support and condone terrorism should not be living in the United States, and this first-ever case before the ATRC shows how the [DOJ] will use every tool at its disposal to protect our country."
Zada had been living as a permanent resident in Fort Worth, Texas. Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, were previously convicted for their involvement in the alleged plot. The men were arrested in October 2024 after reportedly purchasing firearms and ammunition from an undercover FBI agent. They later admitted to buying AK-47 rifles to carry out a mass shooting on behalf of the Islamic State. Zada's son was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and Tawhedi is awaiting sentencing.
The ATRC issued an order of removal for Zada on August 20, and she is not permitted to re-enter the U.S. FBI Director Kash Patel called the deportation a "historic and vitally important step in our work to protect the U.S. homeland from terrorism."
"An individual who supported a plot by ISIS-sympathizing family members to commit an attack in America has paid the price for that," Patel said. "She came to our country, betrayed it, and has now lost the right to live here and enjoy our democratic freedoms. This FBI and our Justice Department partners will protect the American people from the threat of terrorism, using all means necessary."
According to the DOJ, the family began selling their possessions to fund the attack and purchased one-way tickets to Kabul, with the exception of Zada's son and Tawhedi.
Attorneys for Haji Zada stated that her decision to consent to removal "should not be seen as an endorsement of this court’s legitimacy." They argued that forcing lawful permanent residents into court without revealing evidence against them violates due process and expressed confidence that the ATRC will be deemed unconstitutional.
The court's authority was granted by Congress in 1996, but Zada's deportation marks its first operational use.