The U.S. government is seeking to deport an Afghan woman accused of supporting an Islamic State-inspired terror plot, marking the first use of a rarely invoked federal court in three decades. Nazira Haji Zada, 47, of Fort Worth, Texas, will appear Thursday in the Alien Terrorist Removal Court in Washington, D.C., where a judge will review evidence before deciding whether to proceed with deportation. The Justice Department alleges Haji Zada aided a foiled plot to carry out a mass shooting on Election Day 2024, though she has not been publicly charged with terrorism-related crimes.
Haji Zada is the mother and mother-in-law of two Afghan men convicted in Oklahoma for their roles in the 2024 Election Day plot. Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in November 2023. Her son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, pleaded guilty to terrorism and gun offenses. An FBI memo dated July 15 claims Haji Zada supported the plot, pledged loyalty to ISIS, and indoctrinated her children with extremist ideology. The court’s hearing follows her arrest earlier this week.
Deeper Dive & Context
Legal and Policy Implications
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court, established in 1996, has never been used until now. The Trump administration revived it to expedite the deportation of non-citizens deemed threats to national security. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the case demonstrates the government’s commitment to removing terrorists from the U.S. Critics argue the court’s secrecy and lack of precedent raise due-process concerns.
Family Ties and Allegations
Haji Zada’s son, Abdullah, was 17 when arrested in 2024 and charged as an adult. He and Tawhedi purchased firearms from an undercover FBI agent, intending to carry out an attack. The FBI memo alleges Haji Zada facilitated the plot and radicalized her family. However, no criminal charges have been filed against her directly.
Political and Public Reactions
The case has drawn attention to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Supporters of the deportation effort emphasize national security, while critics question the fairness of using an obscure court for such cases. Haji Zada’s lack of prior criminal history has also sparked debate over the evidence against her.