Nazira Haji Zada, 47, chose to leave the United States rather than continue to challenge her case in the secretive court, as revealed by the DOJ and her lawyers. This marked the first-ever use of the court, which was established in 1996 but had never previously heard a case.

Special Court for National Security Concerns

The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was designed to handle cases involving non-U.S. citizens facing terrorism-related charges where evidence is confidential and related to national security. Haji Zada, who resides in Fort Worth, Texas, was accused of being the “matriarch” of a group linked to a plot to carry out a mass shooting on Election Day in 2024, inspired by the group calling itself Islamic State.

Her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhed, were both found guilty of this plot, but While Haji Zada was never formally charged with a crime, prosecutors alleged her role in radicalizing the family.

Legal Challenges to the Procedure

Lawyers for Haji Zada argued that the court proceedings violated her right to due process under the U.S. Constitution. Court-appointed attorneys, Matthew Farley and Mary Manning Petras, stated they were denied access to the evidence used against their client.

“Our client’s choice to consent to removal should not be seen as an endorsement of this court’s legitimacy,” they said in a statement to The Washington Post. “Dragging lawful permanent residents into court but refusing to show them or their attorneys the evidence that will be used against them is a plain violation of due process.”

They added, “We are confident that the Alien Terrorist Removal Court will be struck down as unconstitutional as soon as a judge is asked to address the issue.”

Government Response and National Security Claims

In a statement, the U.S. Department of Justice said Haji Zada “conceded that she is an alien terrorist and waived appeal of the removal order, terminating her previous [immigration] status.”

U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche called the case a “win for national security and the rule of law.” He stated, “Those who support and condone terrorism should not be living in the United States, and this first-ever case before the ATRC shows how the Department will use every tool at its disposal to protect our country.”