The Terror Court Congress Built and Forgot About Just Got Its First Case Under Trump — and Survived Its First Challenge
For 30 years, the Alien Terrorist Removal Court sat on a shelf. Congress built it in 1996 specifically to handle deportation cases involving classified national security evidence — intelligence too sensitive to reveal in open court but too important to ignore. Five administrations came and went. Not one case was ever filed.
The Trump DOJ filed the first one on July 15. On Thursday, it survived its first constitutional challenge. The terror court is open for business.
The defendant is Nazira Haji Zada, 47, a lawful permanent resident from Afghanistan living in Fort Worth, Texas. Federal prosecutors allege she is the matriarch of an ISIS-sympathizing family that planned a mass shooting on American voters on Election Day 2024. Her son Abdullah and son-in-law Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi have already pleaded guilty. Abdullah, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, received 15 years as an adult. Tawhedi is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and attempting to arm himself for a federal terrorism offense.
The two men were arrested on October 7, 2024 — one year to the day after Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis — after purchasing two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI agent. The weapons were intended for an attack targeting large crowds around Election Day.
Haji Zada herself was not criminally charged. The government is pursuing her removal through a civil immigration proceeding — exactly the type the ATRC was designed for. The DOJ alleges she indoctrinated her children with ISIS ideology, concealed their radicalization from her husband, and helped prepare the family to flee to Afghanistan immediately after the planned attack. The family sold furniture, computers, a phone, and two vehicles. A contract was signed to sell the family home. One-way tickets to Kabul were purchased for her and several children for a date shortly before Election Day.
Chief Judge Joan Ericksen refused to dismiss the case Thursday and denied a request to release Haji Zada from custody — handing the DOJ a critical early win. The court did require prosecutors to supplement their filing with a clearer connection to the terrorism provisions cited. The government complied. The court found it sufficient.
Acting AG Todd Blanche didn’t soften the framing: “The allegations in this case show the matriarch of an ISIS-sympathizing family aiding in a plot to launch a mass casualty attack.”
The defense called the entire proceeding unconstitutional — a “runaround” to avoid a criminal case. Judge Ericksen wasn’t buying it, though she left the door open for those arguments to be raised again as the case develops. The constitutional questions will be fully litigated in real time. That’s fine. That’s exactly what appellate courts are for.
What Thursday established is simpler: the ATRC works, the first case survived its first challenge, and a woman accused of helping plan an Election Day massacre is in custody in Washington D.C.
Congress built the court. Trump finally used it. Now it’s the left’s turn to explain why it shouldn’t exist.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
