The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an unprecedented legal effort against Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan national from Fort Worth, Texas, alleging her support for an ISIS-inspired plot to carry out a mass shooting targeting Americans during the 2024 election. The DOJ filed the removal application on July 15, marking the first time a case has been brought before the long-dormant federal Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC). The court’s inaugural hearing took place on Thursday in Washington, D.C., before Chief Judge Joan N. Ericksen.
"Congress created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court three decades ago to remove from the United States alien terrorists who never should have been here in the first place." — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Department of Justice
The ATRC was established by Congress in 1996 as part of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. Its purpose is to allow the government to seek the removal of non-citizens accused of terrorism while safeguarding classified national security information from public disclosure, a critical component designed to protect intelligence sources and methods. Despite its creation three decades ago, the court had never been utilized until the current proceedings against Zada.
According to court documents, Zada is accused of aiding a plot involving her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and her son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi. Both men were previously arrested in connection with an alleged plan to conduct a mass-casualty attack on behalf of ISIS. Prosecutors allege that Tawhedi admitted to planning to obtain weapons and ammunition for an attack around Election Day 2024. He reportedly purchased two AK-47-style rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines from an undercover FBI employee as part of the alleged scheme. Tawhedi pleaded guilty in June 2025 to charges related to providing material support to ISIS and obtaining firearms in furtherance of a terrorism offense and is currently awaiting sentencing. Abdullah Haji Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, later pleaded guilty as an adult and received a 15-year prison sentence. As part of his plea agreement, Abdullah consented to be removed from the United States after serving his sentence.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche underscored the significance of the case, stating, "Congress created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court three decades ago to remove from the United States alien terrorists who never should have been here in the first place." He added, "The allegations in this case show the matriarch of an ISIS-sympathizing family aiding in a plot to launch a mass casualty attack on American voters on Election Day."
Federal prosecutors further allege that the family took preparatory steps for the planned attack, including selling property and purchasing one-way airfare to Afghanistan for Zada and other family members. FBI Director Kash Patel described the case as a crucial application of federal authorities to address terrorism threats. "No one should be allowed to come into our country and then betray it," Patel asserted. "The FBI and our Justice Department partners will not hesitate to use all available resources to protect the American people."
During Thursday's hearing, Zada’s defense attorney, Matthew Farley, challenged the constitutionality of the proceedings. Farley argued that "This entire scheme is in violation of due process and unconstitutional," according to CBS News. He contended that the ATRC allows the government to seek an individual's removal using a lower evidentiary standard than what is required in a criminal prosecution and also restricts the defense’s access to classified evidence. Judge Ericksen denied a request for Zada's immediate release but pressed prosecutors for additional information regarding the specific allegations against her.
This case represents a coordinated effort involving multiple federal agencies, including the National Security Division, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The proceeding marks a critical test for the ATRC, a specialized judicial body designed to handle complex cases involving alleged foreign terrorist threats and sensitive national security information, thereby setting a precedent for its future use in similar circumstances.
