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Ever since Donald Trump returned to the White House for his second term, his immigration policies have faced massive scrutiny. From mass deportations to a hardline stance against asylum seekers, the administration has pursued some of the most aggressive immigration measures.
Now, in another event, Trump has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. It is a controversial wartime law that was last used during World War II, to fast-track the removal of immigrants.
This move, according to critics is “deeply shameful” and might be of one of the darkest chapters in American history.
In a proclamation issued on Saturday, Trump claimed that the mass deportation initiative is necessary to protect national security from an “invasion” by Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang he has designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
“Tren de Aragua (TdA) is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members, many of whom have unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States,” Trump stated in his executive order.
The President accused the Venezuelan government which is led by Nicolás Maduro, of facilitating mass illegal migration to destabilize US democracy. This signifies his long-standing claims that foreign adversaries are deliberately flooding the US with criminals, drugs, and potential threats; a key narrative in both his 2024 campaign and his first term in office.
The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 is one of the oldest and most controversial wartime laws in US history.
