Who Is Nazira Haji Zada? US Deports Afghan Woman As ‘Alien Terrorist’ Over Election Day Mass Shooting Plot
The US has deported Afghan woman Nazira Haji Zada in the first-ever case before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, over her alleged support for an ISIS-inspired plot to attack the 2024 Election Day. She conceded to being an 'alien terrorist' and is now permanently barred from the US.
The United States has deported Afghan woman Nazira Haji Zada, 47, over allegations that she supported an ISIS-inspired plan to carry out a mass shooting on Election Day in 2024, marking the first-ever case brought before the country's long-dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court. Haji Zada was removed to Afghanistan after conceding that she was an 'alien terrorist,' according to the US Justice Department, in what is also the first time the special federal court has been used to remove a person from the country since it was created by Congress in 1996.
What Is The Alien Terrorist Removal Court
Haji Zada was arrested at her home in Fort Worth, Texas, in July and brought before the ATRC following an application approved by US Attorney General Todd Blanche, BBC reported. The Justice Department said classified information was used in the proceedings to establish that she qualified as an alien terrorist, though the court also provided her lawyers with roughly half a terabyte of documents backing the government's case. Haji Zada eventually conceded to the allegation and waived her right to appeal, and the removal order issued on August 20 was unsealed after she had already returned to Afghanistan. She is now permanently barred from entering the United States. The court had never been used before this case, which comes as the Trump administration steps up efforts to deport foreign nationals accused of posing national security or terrorism threats. ‘I Hope Trump Deports You’: Ohio Realtor Loses Her Job After Leaving Racist Note on Mexican Restaurant Receipt.
Afghan Woman's Alleged Links To 2024 Election Day Terror Plot
US authorities alleged that Haji Zada supported a plot involving her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, to carry out an ISIS-inspired mass-casualty attack around the November 5, 2024, US presidential election. Tawhedi was arrested in October 2024 after buying firearms and ammunition from an undercover FBI employee, with prosecutors alleging he had conspired to obtain two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition and 10 magazines for the planned attack. He later pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges, while Abdullah, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, also pleaded guilty as an adult and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Both men are set to be removed from the US after completing their prison terms. Russia Deports Man Over Online Skirt Review That Court Said Promoted ‘Non-Traditional S*xual Relations’.
Justice Department Calls Case A 'Landmark' Development
The Justice Department alleged that Haji Zada supported the family's plans and helped with preparations, including signing a contract to sell the family home, and that family members sought to indoctrinate children with ISIS ideology. Attorney General Todd Blanche called the case a landmark development and said the ATRC demonstrated that the department would use every tool at its disposal to protect the US from terrorism. FBI Director Kash Patel also described the case as a significant step toward protecting the US homeland.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2026 08:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
