DOJ tapped never-used ‘alien terrorist’ court to deport mother of convicted ISIS supporter

The Department of Justice has activated the Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the first time since its creation in 1996. The government is using this specialized tribunal to pursue the deportation of Nazira Haji Zada, a legal resident of the United States residing in Texas. Authorities accuse the 47-year-old of pledging loyalty to ISIS and radicalizing her family members, including her son and son-in-law, who were involved in a plot to carry out a mass casualty attack on Election Day in 2024.

According to federal filings, the government argues that standard immigration courts are insufficient for this case due to the nature of the allegations. While Zada has no prior criminal history, the Justice Department claims she played a key role within a family unit that supported terrorist activities. Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, has already pleaded guilty to providing material support to ISIS and is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence.

The case is now moving forward under the oversight of Chief Judge Joan Ericksen. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., will oversee an initial status hearing to determine the next steps in this legal process. Much of the evidence supporting the government's application remains classified, and it is currently uncertain how much information will be released to the public as the proceedings continue.

Legal representatives for the family have previously stated that Zada is illiterate and does not speak English, relying on her children for communication during her time in the United States. Her husband, who worked for the U.S. military at Bagram Air Force Base, remains under investigation as a non-suspect who was allegedly unaware of the activities occurring within his household. This development marks a significant shift in how the federal government approaches the removal of foreign nationals suspected of terrorist ties.