Trump to Invoke 1798 Alien Enemies Act, Citing Wartime Powers to Deport Migrants

Oct 12, 2024, 11:33 PM

Former President Donald Trump is expected to announce plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport undocumented immigrants from the United States, according to a senior Trump campaign official who spoke to Fox News. The Alien Enemies Act, which remains in force, was used in 1941 to incarcerate Japanese Americans and empowers the president to detain or deport non-citizens from hostile nations during times of war. Trump intends to argue that the U.S. is at war in order to use the Act against migrants he and Senator J.D. Vance have criticized. "Drastic times call for drastic measures," Trump stated. This move is part of his broader strategy to address illegal immigration, including pledges to send back criminal illegal alien gang members and end the influx of criminals over the border on his first day in office.