Alien Enemies Act: What to know about 1798 law that Trump has invoked for deportations
Trump on Saturday invoked the Alien Enemies Act for the first time since World War II, granting himself sweeping powers under a centuries-old law to deport people associated with a Venezuelan gang. Hours later, a federal judge halted deportations under Trump's order.
The act is a sweeping wartime authority that allows non-citizens to be deported without being given the opportunity to go before an immigration or federal court judge.
ALSO READ: Trump invokes the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act
Trump repeatedly hinted during his campaign that he would declare extraordinary powers to confront illegal immigration and laid additional groundwork in a slew of executive orders on January 20.
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His proclamation on Saturday identified Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang as an invading force. US District Judge James E Boasberg, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, blocked anyone from being deported under Trump's proclamation for two weeks and scheduled a Friday hearing to consider arguments.
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What is the Alien Enemies Act?
In 1798, with the US preparing for what it believed would be a war with France, Congress passed a series of laws that increased the federal government's reach. Worried that immigrants could sympathise with the French, the Alien Enemies Act was created to give the president wide powers to imprison and deport non-citizens in time of war.
Since then, the act has been used just three times: during the War of 1812, World War I and
