Afghan Woman Deported After Admission of Terrorism Links
An Afghan woman, Nazira Haji Zada, has been sent back to her home country after she acknowledged her involvement in a plot tied to an ISIS-inspired mass shooting planned for Election Day 2024. This marks the first effective application of a specialized federal court, the U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), created by Congress three decades ago to assess whether a non-citizen is an “alien terrorist.”
Zada, 47, admitted in court to being an “alien terrorist” and chose not to pursue an appeal, as confirmed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“This significant case, which led to the swift removal of this alien terrorist, underscores our commitment to national security and the rule of law,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche in a statement. “Individuals who support terrorism do not have a place in the United States, and this case demonstrates how the DOJ will leverage all available tools to safeguard our country.”
Zada’s son and son-in-law were already convicted for their roles in the alleged plan. They were arrested in October 2024 after reportedly purchasing firearms and ammunition from an undercover FBI agent.
Both men confessed to procuring AK-47 rifles to execute a mass shooting on behalf of the Islamic State. Zada’s son received a 15-year prison sentence, while his co-conspirator is still awaiting sentencing, according to the DOJ.
Having lived as a permanent resident in Fort Worth, Texas, Zada is now barred from returning to the U.S. The court had issued her removal order on August 20.
FBI Director Kash Patel considered Zada’s deportation a “historic and vitally important step in our work to protect the U.S. homeland from terrorism.” He remarked that Zada had betrayed the country that welcomed her by supporting a plot involving her family members and that she, as a result, has forfeited her right to live in the U.S. and enjoy democratic freedoms.
It was reported that the family had begun selling their belongings to fund the attack and secured one-way tickets to Kabul, aside from Zada’s son and his accomplice.
Zada’s defense attorneys voiced concern regarding her decision to consent to removal, arguing it should not imply approval of the court’s legitimacy. They described the court’s handling of evidence against defendants as a violation of due process and expressed confidence that the ATRC would ultimately be deemed unconstitutional once scrutinized by a judge.
Interestingly, while the ATRC’s authority was established by Congress in 1996, Zada’s case represents its maiden usage.
