An image of President Trump was displayed on the facade of the U.S. Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C., in February 2026. The Justice Department is making history by turning to a special court to remove a woman accused of supporting the Islamic State.
The Department aims to use the Alien Terrorist Removal Court to deport Nazira Haji Zada, a lawful U.S. permanent resident. She is set to appear in court for the first hearing this Thursday. Established by Congress in 1996, the Alien Terrorist Removal Court allows the Justice Department to use classified evidence in deporting individuals from the U.S.
This marks the first instance of the court’s activation. The DOJ initiated proceedings against Zada, a 47-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas. Authorities have already filed criminal charges against her son and son-in-law for attempting to interfere in the 2024 elections on behalf of the Islamic State. Following their sentencing, both men will face deportation after serving their prison terms.
The allegations in this case show the matriarch of an ISIS-sympathizing family aiding in a plot to launch a mass casualty attack on American voters on Election Day,said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a statement.The Department’s application in this court makes clear that terrorists have no place in the United States of America.
Judge Joan Ericksen, the chief judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, will oversee the case proceedings.