President Donald Trump is set to test the limits of his immigration crackdown by invoking a wartime law to deport immigrants alleged to be gang members without court hearings, a broad authority that could supercharge his mass deportation push and potentially sweep in people not charged with crimes.
After taking office, Trump ordered military and immigration officials to be ready by Feb. 3 to implement the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, last used to justify internment camps for people of Japanese, German and Italian descent during World War Two. The move – which would almost certainly face legal challenges – could allow him to bypass due process rights and rapidly remove migrants.
Even with Trump’s sweeping early actions, his administration will have to contend with overwhelmed immigration courts where asylum cases can take years to resolve. Trump expanded a fast-track deportation process known as expedited removal, but it only applies to those in the U.S. for two years or less and still gives migrants the ability to claim asylum.
The Alien Enemies Act could allow Trump to rapidly deport migrants deemed part of an "invasion or predatory incursion" – a novel use of a law previously only invoked in wartime. Republicans frequently refer to illegal immigration as an invasion and portray migrants as dangerous criminals and "military-aged."
The White House said on Jan. 20 that it was beginning a process to designate criminal cartels and gangs, including the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, as terrorist organizations and to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged gang members.
The Trump administration is pushing to ramp up detention space, a move that could work in conjunction with the Alien Enemies Act.
Posted by John3262005
6 Comments
OH HEY THE ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS WOW YAY THATS A GOOD SIGN YAYYYYYYY
SERIOUSLY IS HE JUST PICKING THE MOST EVIL PARTS OF US HISTORY AND GOING “YEAH LETS DO THAT AGAIN” AHHHHHHHH
TLDR: The Alien and Sedition Act of 1798 allows the government to bypass due process in the event of an “invasion or predatory incursion.” It was used to justify the Japanese German and Italian internment camps during WW2. Trump will use it to deport immigrants without court hearings.
I am taking a very dim view of emergency powers that we simply trust the President not to abuse.
[read more about the Alien Enemies Act](https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/alien-enemies-act-explained)
!ping IMMIGRATION&SNEK
There’s a meme going around where it’s just Trump pulling back the curtain to reveal a sign saying “another horrible thing.”
*I wish it wasn’t so fucking accurate.*
Is AOL a credible news source here? I saw another user posted something from the “lawyers, guns and money” blog. These are the types of things that pop up as default recommended sites when I open a new tab on my browser.
At this point just give them blankets covered in smallpox too if we’re going to replay all of our most shameful hits.
https://preview.redd.it/glcnj3ndpyge1.jpeg?width=833&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32e51c80c6a726059adfc65049ac2554d6353598