US Revives Dormant Court to Deport Afghan Woman Linked to Election Plot
The U.S. is using the previously dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court, established in 1996, to seek the deportation of Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan woman accused of supporting an Islamic State-inspired plot to attack American voters. This marks the first…
Detroit, MI, July 29, 2026 —
The United States government has reactivated the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), a court established in 1996 but never before utilized, to pursue the deportation of Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan national accused of involvement in a plot targeting American voters.
This unprecedented use of the ATRC signifies a significant development in the application of this specialized legal framework. Zada was arrested earlier this week in connection with an alleged Islamic State-inspired plot. Authorities believe she is the mother of an individual convicted in a 2024 plot that aimed to disrupt elections in Oklahoma. Additionally, Zada is alleged to be the mother-in-law of another man who has pleaded guilty to providing material support to ISIS.
The ATRC was created under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Its purpose is to allow for the removal of suspected alien terrorists from the United States. The court operates outside the standard immigration court system, with proceedings often closed to the public to protect classified information.
Details regarding the specifics of the alleged plot or the evidence used to link Zada to the ATRC proceedings were not immediately available. The arrest and the subsequent legal action represent the first instance of the court being invoked since its establishment over two decades ago. The case is expected to draw attention due to the court’s dormant status and the nature of the allegations.
Story summarized from the original created by Eric Tucker And Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press on www.clickondetroit.com, see more information here.
