First ATRC Removal: Afghan Woman Deported for Terror Plot
For the first time in US history, a federal court created in 1996 but never used was activated to deport someone. Nazira Haji Zada, 47, an Afghan national who lived in Fort Worth, Texas, was removed from the United States after admitting she supported her family's plan for an ISIS-inspired mass shooting on Election Day 2024. She is now permanently barred from returning.
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC) — a specialized federal court that Congress created in 1996 to quickly remove people the government identifies as alien terrorists — issued its first-ever removal order on August 20, 2026. The order was unsealed after Haji Zada was already back in Afghanistan. The Department of Justice announced the case on September 11, 2026.
What happened in court
The DOJ filed the removal application on July 15, 2026, certified by Attorney General Todd Blanche. Haji Zada appeared in open court for the first time on July 30, 2026, before ATRC Chief Judge Joan N. Ericksen. The government used classified information to support its case — a procedure the ATRC statute specifically allows when public disclosure would threaten national security. The government also gave Haji Zada and her two federal public defenders roughly half a terabyte of documents. She conceded she is an alien terrorist, waived her right to appeal, and her prior immigration status was terminated. She is now permanently inadmissible to the United States.
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Her son Abdullah Haji Zada, who was 17 at the time of his October 7, 2024 arrest, pleaded guilty as an adult and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. As part of his plea, he agreed to a judicial order of removal to Afghanistan after his sentence ends, giving up his lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and waiving any right to appeal or seek asylum. Her son-in-law Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 28, pleaded guilty on June 13, 2025, to two terrorism-related offenses — conspiring to support ISIS and illegally obtaining firearms for a terror attack — and is awaiting sentencing. Court documents show the family sold furniture, computers, phones, and both vehicles to fund the plot, and signed a contract to sell their house. They also bought one-way tickets to Kabul for most family members shortly before Election Day 2024.
What this means for immigration law
The ATRC operates under Title 8 of the US Code, Sections 1531 to 1537. It is staffed by federal district court judges appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States. A removal order from the ATRC requires the government to prove by a preponderance of the evidence — meaning more likely than not — that the person is an alien terrorist. Either side can appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. This case marks the first time any administration has used the court since Congress created it 30 years ago, signaling that the current administration intends to use it going forward.
What to do
- If you or a family member is contacted by federal agents about a terrorism investigation, do not speak to investigators without an attorney present — you have the right to remain silent.
- If you receive any ATRC court notice or removal order, contact an immigration attorney immediately. The ATRC process moves faster than standard immigration court.
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) should know that a terrorism-related conviction or concession can permanently terminate LPR status and bar any future return to the US.
- Review official court documents and updates at atrc.uscourts.gov for information on how ATRC proceedings work.
A full breakdown of this topic — in our guide “Appealing to the BIA”.
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The ATRC process is significantly faster than standard removal proceedings, and the government can use classified evidence that you and your attorney may only see in summary form — not in full. If you receive an ATRC notice, you are entitled to appointed counsel if you cannot afford one, but you should also seek a private immigration attorney with national security experience immediately. Waiving appeal, as Haji Zada did, results in a final, unappealable removal order and permanent inadmissibility — so no decision in an ATRC case should be made without thorough legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC)?
The ATRC is a specialized US federal court created by Congress in 1996. It can order the removal of people the government identifies as alien terrorists. It is staffed by federal judges appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States. The 2026 Haji Zada case was the first time it was ever used.
Can a green card holder be deported for terrorism-related activity?
Yes. A lawful permanent resident (LPR) — someone with a green card — can lose that status and be removed if the government proves they are an alien terrorist. In this case, Abdullah Haji Zada's LPR status was terminated as part of his guilty plea, and he will be deported to Afghanistan after serving his 15-year sentence.
What does 'permanently inadmissible' mean?
It means the person can never legally enter the United States again. There is no visa, green card, or asylum application that can override a permanent bar based on terrorism grounds.
Can the government use secret evidence to remove someone through the ATRC?
Yes. The ATRC statute allows the government to use classified information when making that information public would risk national security. The person being removed and their lawyers receive a summary of the evidence, but not necessarily the full classified details. Both sides can appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.