Trump to Invoke 1798 Alien Enemies Act to Expedite Deportations

The rarely used wartime law would target foreign criminal groups but faces legal scrutiny over its application in peacetime.

President Donald Trump plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to accelerate deportations, with an announcement expected as early as Friday.
The administration aims to use the law to target violent foreign gangs, including Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and the MS-13 gang.
The Alien Enemies Act has historically been invoked during wartime but has not been used since the 1950s; legal experts question its applicability in peacetime.
Critics warn the law could bypass due process and lead to mass deportations of immigrants, including those with long-standing ties to the U.S.
Trump has framed the move as part of his broader campaign promise to conduct the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, though logistical and legal hurdles remain.