Historic Deportation Case Moves Forward for Afghan Woman Linked to ISIS Plot
Wertynews.com – The Justice Department has initiated an unprecedented legal proceeding to remove a Texas resident from the United States through a nearly forgotten judicial body. Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Fort Worth resident, faces deportation proceedings before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court—a venue established by Congress in 1996 and signed into law by President Bill Clinton that has never held a hearing since its inception.
First Test Case for a Dormant Court
Until the Justice Department filed its removal application on July 15, this specialized court functioned as what critics called a “zombie” institution—existing only in statute but unused in practice. Previous attempts to identify a suitable test case following the court’s creation had failed. The venue was designed specifically for cases involving classified information that could not be disclosed publicly without compromising national security interests.
The proceedings operate under unique parameters. Unlike standard criminal trials, individuals facing removal cannot examine the classified evidence presented against them. Furthermore, they are prohibited from legally contesting how that evidence was gathered. Applications require certification from the attorney general and are evaluated ex parte and in camera, meaning the person subject to deportation does not participate as a formal party during the initial review phase.
Allegations Against Zada
Prosecutors contend that Zada played a supporting role in a conspiracy connected to the Islamic State. According to an unclassified FBI summary submitted to the court, she “supported” her son and son-in-law’s alleged plot. The FBI further asserted that Zada “pledged loyalty to ISIS” and “worked to indoctrinate her children with ISIS ideology,” drawing on information attributed to a “reliable source.”
“Nazira worked with Tawhedi to radicalize the family and to conceal their pro-ISIS teaching and planned family relocation to ISIS-controlled territory from her unsuspecting husband,” the FBI documented in its filing.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the significance of the allegations in a public statement:
“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.”
Family Members Already Convicted
Zada’s son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and her son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, both entered guilty pleas last year in a federal court located in Oklahoma. Their convictions related to purchasing two AK-47 style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI agent as part of an alleged scheme targeting the 2024 election in support of the Islamic State.
At the time of his 2024 arrest, Abdullah Haji Zada was merely 17 years old. He was charged as an adult and subsequently pleaded guilty to gun-related offenses when he turned 18. Tawhedi entered guilty pleas covering both terrorism and firearms charges.
Notably, Zada herself has never been formally charged with any terrorism-related crimes by the government, and she possesses no documented criminal record according to federal authorities.
Court Structure and Upcoming Hearing
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court mirrors the organizational framework of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, another confidential judicial body that examines sensitive surveillance warrant requests. All five judges serving on this specialized court also hold positions on the FISC and receive their appointments from the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen, who serves on the federal bench in Minnesota, holds the position of chief judge for the Alien Terrorist Removal Court. She will oversee Zada’s public removal hearing at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.
Should the removal application gain acceptance, the case advances to a public hearing stage. During this phase, the Justice Department publishes an unclassified summary of the case, a practice it has undertaken through a newly established website for the court that launched on July 17.
Zada’s Immigration Status
Publicly unsealed court documents confirm that Zada holds a green card. Under the court’s established rules, lawful permanent residents possess the right to receive government-appointed legal representation, although their appointed attorney is restricted from sharing classified evidence with the client.
Additional court filings reveal that Zada’s spouse worked at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2016. He subsequently received a green card through a special program designed for Afghan nationals who provided assistance to U.S. military forces during the conflict.
