Trump Plans to Invoke Alien Enemies Act for Mass Deportations

The 18th-century wartime law would allow expedited deportations without due process, targeting Venezuelan gang members and other noncitizens.

President Trump is expected to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 as soon as Friday to accelerate deportations of certain noncitizens, including suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The law, historically used during wartime, grants the president authority to detain, deport, or restrict noncitizens from nations deemed a threat, bypassing standard immigration court processes.
Preparations are reportedly underway to detain some individuals at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as part of this initiative.
Legal experts anticipate significant challenges, arguing the law's use in non-wartime conditions could be deemed an overreach of executive power.
The Alien Enemies Act has been invoked only a few times in U.S. history, most notably during World War II, and its modern application is already drawing scrutiny from civil rights advocates.