Washington, D.C. — Today, President Donald Trump announced that he was invoking the Alien Enemies Act to enforce immigration law. This wartime authority has only been invoked in major military conflicts, most recently during World War II. In response, Allison McManus, managing director for National Security and Foreign Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Invoking the Alien Enemies Act is a dangerous abuse of power intended to deprive people of their legal rights. This announcement comes just one day after the president threatened to use the Department of Justice against his critics, raising the likelihood that these powers will be exploited and put the safety of any American who speaks out against this administration at risk. Every American, regardless of their politics, should be concerned that the president is granting himself powers last invoked to detain thousands of Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II—one of the most shameful times in U.S. history.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].