Alien Enemies Act: US President Donald Trump has invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport more than 200 Venezuelans, whom the White House alleges are gang members. The group was sent to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador, sparking criticism from rights groups and international observers.
What is the Act?
The Alien Enemies Act, passed in 1798, grants the U.S. president broad authority to detain and deport individuals from “enemy” nations during times of war or when an invasion is threatened. Originally enacted amid fears of war with France, the law has rarely been used in American history.
Mass Deportation Under a 1798 Law
According to officials, 261 individuals were deported, with 137 removed under the act. Trump accused the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) of “perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion” into the U.S.
Despite a judge’s attempt to block the deportations, the White House argued that the legal order was invalid and that the removals had already been carried out.
A Law Rarely Used in US History
The Alien Enemies Act has only been invoked three times before—during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II. The most infamous use was during WWII when around 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly detained in internment camps, alongside thousands of German and Italian Americans.
Trump’s Justification and Global Backlash
Trump first referenced the act during his inauguration, promising to “eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks” in the U.S. His recent move to apply it against Venezuelans has drawn sharp criticism.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has challenged the decision in court, arguing that the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela, making the deportations unlawful. The Venezuelan government condemned the action, calling it a violation of human rights that “unjustly criminalizes Venezuelan migration.”
Meanwhile, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele reacted sarcastically to reports of the judge’s ruling against the deportations, posting on social media: “Oopsie… Too late.”
With Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act reigniting debates over its legality and implications, experts warn that the decision could set a dangerous precedent for mass deportations based on ancestry rather than proven criminal activity.