An Afghan woman accused of supporting a plot to carry out a mass shooting in the United States has been deported to Afghanistan in the first case ever handled by a little-used special terrorism court, the US Department of Justice announced.
Nazira Hajji Zada, 47, a resident of Texas, was removed from the United States on August 25 following an order issued by the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC) in Washington. The ATRC was established by the US Congress approximately three decades ago but had never been used before this case.
According to the Department of Justice, Zada, who arrived in the United States in 2018, admitted during proceedings that she qualified as an “alien terrorist” under the relevant legal framework and waived her right to appeal the removal order.
US Attorney General Todd Blanche described the decision as a significant milestone, stating that the case demonstrated the government’s willingness to use all available legal tools to address national security concerns. He said the deportation represented a victory for both national security and the rule of law.
The case is linked to a previously uncovered plot targeting the United States on Election Day in 2024. Zada’s son, Abdullah Hajji Zada, and an alleged co-conspirator, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, were accused of planning an attack on behalf of the Islamic State terrorist group.
Abdullah Hajji Zada, who was 17 years old at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2025. Tawhedi is still awaiting sentencing in connection with the case.
The deportation marks a historic first for the Alien Terrorist Removal Court and highlights the continued focus of US authorities on counterterrorism efforts and national security enforcement.
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