A lawful permanent resident of Afghan origin has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for planning a terrorist attack aimed at disrupting the 2024 U.S. presidential election, U.S. authorities announced on Monday.
Abdullah Haji Zada, who held a U.S. green card at the time of the plot, was convicted of conspiring on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to carry out a violent attack targeting Election Day voters and polling sites.
Investigators revealed that Zada sought to acquire two AK-47-style rifles and approximately 500 rounds of ammunition, fully aware that they would be used to inflict mass casualties during the election.
The plot was uncovered through intelligence and counterterrorism monitoring conducted by special agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Following the investigation, HSI agents executed search warrants, seized weapons and other evidence, and made the arrest that prevented a potential tragedy.
“This case underscores the persistent threat posed by ISIS and its sympathizers, who continue to seek opportunities to carry out attacks in the United States, particularly during high-profile events like national elections,” a federal official said.
Since losing its territorial stronghold in Iraq and Syria, ISIS has increasingly relied on operatives abroad to orchestrate attacks using small arms and easily obtainable weapons, officials noted.
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Federal authorities emphasized that heightened security measures around the 2024 elections played a critical role in protecting polling sites, election workers, and voters from both domestic and international extremist threats.
After serving his 15-year sentence, Zada will be taken into ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) custody for deportation back to Afghanistan.
The case also highlights the continued role of ICE HSI in dismantling transnational terrorist networks operating within U.S. borders.