The U.S. government is initiating the first case before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a national security tribunal established in 1996 but never previously utilized. The case involves Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan woman residing in Fort Worth, Texas, who is accused by the Justice Department of supporting an Islamic State-linked terrorist plot involving her son and son-in-law.
Haji Zada is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, marking the first public hearing in the court's history. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the case highlights the alleged involvement of Haji Zada in aiding a plot aimed at a mass casualty attack on American voters on Election Day. The Justice Department claims she supported ISIS and worked to radicalize her family members.
According to an unclassified FBI summary, Haji Zada allegedly collaborated with her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, in a conspiracy that included purchasing firearms for a planned attack. Abdullah Haji Zada, who was arrested in October 2024, has since pleaded guilty and received a 15-year prison sentence.
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court allows for the review of classified evidence in closed proceedings, with the respondent receiving only an unclassified summary of the allegations. This case could set a precedent for future terrorism-related deportation cases as it is the first to be filed since the court's establishment.