Nazira Haji Zada is deported to Afghanistan after the Justice Department designated her as an alien terrorist.
The Justice Department announced that Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan permanent resident, has been deported to her home country. The administration designated her as an alien terrorist, marking the first time the Alien Terrorist Removal Court has been used to secure a deportation.
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This court was created to allow the government to deport noncitizens who cannot be removed through traditional legal processes because the information regarding their cases is classified for national security reasons. Nazira Haji Zada conceded that she is an alien terrorist and waived her right to appeal the removal order. This decision ended her previous status and allowed for a prompt removal. Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and her son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, were both prosecuted and convicted over a plot to commit an ISIS-inspired mass shooting on Election Day in 2024. The Justice Department alleged that Nazira Haji Zada supported their plans and worked to radicalize her children to support ISIS. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the deportation is a win for national security and the rule of law. FBI Director Kash Patel also noted that the individual who supported a plot by ISIS-sympathizing family members has paid the price for that.
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