An Afghan woman living in Fort Worth had her first hearing Thursday, July 30, in a special federal court designed to deport terrorists. Nazira Haji Zada’s attorneys say the 47-year-old’s due process is being violated.
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An Afghan woman residing in Fort Worth has been arrested for her alleged role in plotting to commit a terrorist attack in 2024 and faces deportation from a federal court that existed only on paper for 30 years.
Nazira Haji Zada, 47, appeared before a federal judge Thursday morning for her first hearing in the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, according to a Department of Justice news release. This is the first time the court — referred to by legal experts as a “zombie court” — has been used since its creation by Congress in 1996.
This special court is located in Washington, D.C., and allows the government to use classified information as evidence to quickly deport noncitizens suspected of being terrorists. Evidence is usually required to be disclosed in traditional immigration court.
Zada, a lawful permanent resident, is accused of supporting two family members who were planning to carry out an Islamic State-inspired mass shooting on Election Day 2024. The Department of Justice filed its application with the court to remove Zada on July 15, according to the release.
“This is a historic step asking this court for the first time to remove an individual from the United States who supported a plot by ISIS-sympathizing family members to commit an act of terrorism in America,” said FBI Director Kash Patel in the release.
Zada’s son and son-in-law — Abdullah Haji Zada and Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi — were arrested Oct. 7, 2024, after purchasing guns and ammunition for a planned Election Day attack from an undercover FBI agent, authorities have said. Both men later pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in a federal courtroom in Oklahoma City.
According to an unclassified summary of the case against Zada, the 47-year-old is accused of pledging allegiance to ISIS and indoctrinating her children with ISIS ideology.
Court documents allege that she signed a contract to sell the family’s home to finance the planned attack, the news release states. The family also sold their two vehicles, furniture and personal electronics. According to the release, Zada was planning to return to Afghanistan with her other children right before the planned shooting.
Zada’s husband was employed at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan from 2009 through 2016, according to an unclassified declaration from Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed in support of the application for Zada’s removal. She entered the United States legally in 2018 and has no criminal record.
Matthew Farley, one of Zada’s appointed attorneys, told the court during the hearing Thursday that the Justice Department’s attempt to deport the Afghan national is unconstitutional, according to NBC News reporting.
“This entire scheme is in violation of due process,” he said.
Chief Judge Joan Ericksen called the case a civil matter, NBC reported, but denied the defense attorneys’ motion that Zada be immediately released.
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Harriet Ramos covers crime and other breaking news for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.