The Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a specialized federal tribunal that had remained unused for three decades, issued its inaugural order last week. This landmark decision led to the deportation of Nazira Haji Zada, 47, an Afghan woman formerly residing in Fort Worth, Texas. Simultaneously, Attorney General Todd Blanche held a White House press briefing, addressing the forthcoming release of classified files related to the September 11 attacks and detailing recent fraud enforcement efforts by the Department of Justice.
"The one thing that we are not doing, we’re not protecting people." Todd Blanche, Attorney General
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was established through the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. Its unique design aimed to address a specific challenge: how the government could deport individuals accused of terrorism without compromising classified national security intelligence in a public courtroom. The tribunal is staffed by five district judges, each drawn from a different circuit and appointed by the Chief Justice. Unlike standard immigration courts, these judges are authorized to review classified evidence under protective procedures, ensuring sensitive national security information remains undisclosed.
Officials confirmed on Friday that Ms. Zada had already been deported to Afghanistan under a sealed ruling dated August 20. She consented to her own removal and, solely for the purposes of the case, accepted the government’s classification of her as an "alien terrorist." Notably, prosecutors had not filed criminal charges against Ms. Zada herself concerning the alleged Election Day conspiracy. At the time the government targeted her for removal, she held lawful permanent resident status. The Justice Department petitioned the specialized court on July 15, alleging that she had provided support to family members reportedly organizing an ISIS-inspired shooting. Federal agents took Ms. Zada into custody weeks later in late July, and she subsequently appeared before Chief Judge Joan Ericksen in a Washington courtroom to respond to the removal petition.
The broader plot connected to Ms. Zada’s case had already resulted in convictions. Authorities arrested her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and her son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, on October 7, 2024. They were apprehended while purchasing AK-47-style rifles, ammunition, and magazines from an undercover FBI operative. Prosecutors stated that the two men were preparing for a mass-casualty shooting planned for on or around November 5, 2024, which was Election Day. Court filings indicated that Tawhedi had been communicating with an ISIS facilitator during the planning phases, even discussing whether 500 rounds of ammunition would be sufficient for their goal. Tawhedi later admitted to plotting with at least one co-conspirator from June through October 2024, working to secure firearms for an ISIS-backed assault. He entered a guilty plea in June 2025 to charges of conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, along with firearms violations tied to a federal terrorism statute. His sentencing is pending. Abdullah, who was 17 years old at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty as an adult defendant and received a 15-year prison term. His plea agreement includes an eventual return to Afghanistan following his release and significantly limits his options to appeal the removal.
Critics, including Ms. Zada’s attorneys and several civil-liberties organizations, have voiced concerns regarding the Alien Terrorist Removal Court's framework. They argue that the reliance on classified evidence, shielded from public disclosure, can impede defendants' ability to fully review and contest the case against them, potentially affecting due process.
Separately, the White House press operation experienced a shakeup, with Attorney General Todd Blanche taking the podium in the Rose Garden on Wednesday. He filled in as the administration continues its search for a successor to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. During the briefing, reporters pressed Attorney General Blanche on the Department of Justice’s plans regarding classified files linked to the September 11 attacks. He indicated that more documents concerning alleged Saudi connections would soon be made public. Attorney General Blanche insisted that sensitive material would remain protected only where genuinely warranted, stating, "The one thing that we are not doing, we’re not protecting people."
Fraud enforcement was another significant topic during Attorney General Blanche’s briefing. Just two days prior, he had joined Vice President JD Vance in Missouri to announce charges against alleged fraudsters accused of siphoning millions from COVID-era small-business relief programs. Attorney General Blanche framed both his Rose Garden appearance and the fraud announcement as evidence of a Justice Department intensifying its focus on fraud and public-corruption cases. These concurrent developments, encompassing the historic first ruling of a specialized national security court and the department’s proactive stance on financial crime, indicate an agency actively engaged on multiple fronts this month.
