Federal authorities removed Nazira Haji Zada, 47, from the United States after she conceded through her lawyers that she qualified as an 'alien terrorist' and waived her right to appeal, the Justice Department said Friday.
Zada had lived in Fort Worth, Texas. The Alien Terrorist Removal Court ordered her removal on Aug. 20. The court unsealed the order Friday after her departure.
The case is the first completed use of the specialized terrorism court Congress created in 1996. The government used classified information and gave Zada and her public defenders about half a terabyte of supporting documents, according to the Justice Department.
Prosecutors said Zada supported her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, as they planned an Islamic State-inspired mass shooting around Election Day in 2024. Abdullah Haji Zada pleaded guilty as an adult and received a 15-year prison sentence. Tawhedi pleaded guilty to terrorism and firearms offenses and is awaiting sentencing.
The Justice Department said the family had begun selling property, including furniture, computers, a cell phone and two cars, to fund the attack. It also said they bought one-way airline tickets to Kabul before Election Day for Zada and other minor children.
Why it matters: This is a national security case, but also a window into how far the government will go when it says classified evidence is needed. The big picture: Congress built this court in 1996, and it took until now for a completed case.
What's next: The removal may encourage more use of a court that lets judges review information kept from the public.