The article discusses Donald Trump's invocation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to target Venezuelan gang members, a law infrequently used due to its historical ties to wartime actions against noncitizens. This directive allows for the removal of undocumented individuals without court hearings, leading to immediate deportations despite legal objections. Critics argue that the president's broad interpretation of the act poses a risk to civil rights, potentially classifying any group as enemy aliens without evidence or oversight.
"If the president can designate any group as enemy aliens under the act, and that designation is unreviewable, then there is no limit on who can be sent to a Salvadoran prison, or any limit on how long they will remain there."
"The Alien Enemies Act was never intended to be used this way. The wartime law was created during an era when the U.S. did not have federal immigration policy."
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