Alien Enemies Act: A Dark Chapter in U.S. History

Imagine being arrested, locked away, or kicked out of the country—not because of anything you did, but because of where you were born. That’s exactly what happened to thousands of people in American history under a law that’s still on the books today: the Alien Enemies Act.

Passed in 1798, the law gives the U.S. government power to detain or deport people from countries we’re at war with—just because of their nationality. It’s rarely used, but when it is, the results have been dramatic and often deeply unjust. Let’s take a look at how this law played out during major wars in American history—and what it teaches us about power, fear, and fairness.

The First Test: War of 1812

The Alien Enemies Act got its first real test when the U.S. went to war with Britain in 1812. President James Madison declared British citizens in America to be “alien enemies.” Some were detained or forced to leave, but the action was limited. The government didn’t have a lot of resources, and the country wasn’t nearly as large or organized as it is now.

Even then, though, the basic ethical question was clear: Is it right to punish people not for what they’ve done, but for where they come from?

World War I: Fear Takes Over

Fast forward a hundred years to World War I. When the U.S. joined the war in 1917, President Wilson used the Alien Enemies Act to target immigrants from Germany and Austria-Hungary. Nearly half a million people were forced to register as “enemy aliens.” They had to carry special ID cards, follow curfews, and stay away from certain areas. Around 6,300 were arrested and locked up—most without any proof of wrongdoing.

This wasn’t about catching spies. While a few actual threats were found, most people caught up in this dragnet were just ordinary immigrants. The fear of the enemy—and a surge of anti-German hate—led to sweeping restrictions that upended lives and families.

World War II: Mass Internment on an Unprecedented Scale

Then came World War II—and the darkest chapter in the use of the Alien Enemies Act.

Right after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, President Roosevelt used the Act to label tens of thousands of Japanese, German, and Italian nationals as enemy aliens. They were banned from traveling freely, forced to register again, and had their assets frozen. Many were arrested—often based on rumors or stereotypes.

The numbers are staggering: about 31,000 people, mostly of Japanese and German descent, were interned in Department of Justice camps for years.

But it didn’t stop there.

Using a separate order (Executive Order 9066), the government also removed over 110,000 Japanese Americans—the majority of them U.S. citizens—from their homes and forced them into internment camps. The Alien Enemies Act didn’t directly apply to citizens, but it helped create the climate of fear that made this mass incarceration possible.

Legal but Unjust

At the time, all of this was legal. Courts mostly sided with the government. The Supreme Court even upheld the internment of Japanese Americans in the now-infamous Korematsu v. United States decision.

But being legal doesn’t make something right.

Decades later, the U.S. government admitted these actions were wrong. In 1988, Congress apologized and paid reparations to Japanese American survivors. And in 2010, the Department of Justice apologized for the treatment of Italian Americans. Still, the Alien Enemies Act was never repealed.

A Law with a Dangerous Legacy

What do we learn from all this?

That in times of war or crisis, fear can make us turn against our neighbors. The Alien Enemies Act gave presidents the power to round up immigrants based on nothing more than where they were born. And while it was used most aggressively during the world wars, the law still exists—and could be used again.

That’s why remembering this history matters. Because if we’re not careful, the next time fear rises, we might repeat the mistakes of the past.

What Is the Alien Enemies Act—and Why Does It Still Matter?

Most Americans have never heard of the Alien Enemies Act, even though it’s been quietly sitting in our laws since 1798. It sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, but it’s very real—and it gives the President the power to detain or deport people from “enemy” countries during wartime.

This law has only been used a few times in U.S. history, mainly during World Wars I and II. But recently, it’s made headlines again—this time not in a war against nations, but against gang violence. That sudden shift has raised serious legal and human rights questions.

So where did this law come from? What was it meant to do? And why is it still around more than 225 years later?

Let’s break it down.

A Law Born Out of Fear

Back in 1798, the U.S. was a brand-new country, barely two decades old and already feeling threatened. France, going through its own revolution, was fighting wars across Europe. U.S. leaders were afraid French spies or sympathizers might stir up trouble at home. To protect national security, Congress passed a group of laws called the Alien and Sedition Acts.

One of those was the Alien Enemies Act (AEA). It gave the President power to arrest, detain, or deport adult men (and later women) from enemy countries—but only during times of declared war or invasion.

The idea was simple: If the U.S. is at war, and there are people from that enemy country living here, the government should be able to act quickly if any of them pose a threat.

Not Just Another Law

Unlike the other Alien and Sedition Acts, which expired or were repealed soon after, the Alien Enemies Act never went away. It’s still part of U.S. law today. That’s because while the other laws mostly targeted political speech and immigration, the AEA was considered a wartime emergency measure.

Even President Thomas Jefferson—who opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts—let the AEA stay in place when he came into office. And in 1918, it was updated to include women, too.

From Dormant Law to Wartime Weapon

The Alien Enemies Act has only been used a few times, but when it has been invoked, it’s made a big impact:

• War of 1812: Used against British nationals.

• World War I: President Woodrow Wilson required German-born residents to register as enemy aliens. Thousands were detained.

• World War II: President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the law’s use to Japanese, German, and Italian nationals. Many were sent to internment camps—part of a broader and painful chapter in U.S. history that included the forced relocation of Japanese Americans.

Each time, the law was used to respond to wartime fear, often casting a wide net over entire communities based on nationality—not necessarily based on individual guilt.

A New Kind of War?

Fast forward to 2025, and we see the AEA being used in a very different way.

Former President Donald Trump issued an executive order labeling certain Venezuelan migrants as “enemy aliens” under the AEA. His administration claimed they were part of a dangerous gang, Tren de Aragua, and used the Act to detain and deport hundreds—without the usual legal hearings that most immigrants would receive.

This marked the first time the law was used without a declared war. Instead of responding to a conflict between nations, it was applied in what some called a “war on gangs.” That move has sparked lawsuits and serious concern from legal experts and human rights groups.

Why It Matters Now

The Alien Enemies Act is a powerful tool that was designed for very specific situations—wartime, when fast action might be needed to stop a real threat. But when it’s used outside of that context, it raises big questions:

• Who gets to decide who is an “enemy”?

• What rights do immigrants have in times of fear or crisis?

• How do we balance national security with individual liberty?

This 18th-century law still has the power to change lives in the 21st century. That’s why understanding its history and purpose matters—because how we use it today says a lot about who we are as a country.

Teen Deported to El Salvador

Texas Monthly

Eighteen-year-old Carlos Daniel Terán was taken from his home and shipped to a notorious prison on the charge that he is a gang member. The government hasn't produced evidence supporting the claim, says his lawyer.

Using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport a teenager is more than just extreme — it’s completely out of line. This law was meant to be used during declared wars, to remove people from countries we were actually fighting. It suspends basic rights like due process. Using it now, in peacetime, against a young person with no proof of any crime, is not only unfair — it’s dangerous.

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

While it might not be a comfortable topic, it's an important one!

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men (ages 15-44) — but not limited to just young men. Trust me.

The good news?  It's highly treatable—especially when caught early. 

• 👀 Look for changes in size or shape 

• 👐 Gently feel for lumps or swelling 

• 🤔 Notice any pain or discomfort? 

If something seems, off, don't Google it—see a urologist. 

Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation

The SAVE Act Sounds Harmless. Here’s Why It’s Not.

There’s a bill moving through Congress called the SAVE Act—short for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. With a name like that, it sounds like it’s about protecting elections and making sure only citizens can vote.

But here’s the thing: noncitizens voting in federal elections is already illegal, and it almost never happens. This bill doesn’t solve a real problem—it creates new ones. Big ones.

Let’s talk about what the SAVE Act would actually do—and why voting rights groups are sounding the alarm.

What the SAVE Act Would Do

If passed, the SAVE Act would require every single person to show proof of U.S. citizenship—like a passport or birth certificate—just to register to vote.

That means:

• No more simple online voter registration

• No more quick sign-ups at the DMV or through voter registration drives

• No registering by mail unless you show up in person with documents

• And if your name has changed (like many married women), you might have to bring extra documents to prove who you are

And if you don’t have those papers? You can’t register. Period.

Why That’s a Big Problem

Millions of eligible voters don’t have easy access to the kinds of documents the SAVE Act requires. Think about it:

• Military families stationed overseas

• Older Americans who were never issued birth certificates

• People displaced by natural disasters who lost important papers

• Low-income citizens who can’t afford to pay for copies of documents

• Married women or anyone whose names don’t match their birth certificates

Even if you’ve been voting your whole life, if you move and need to re-register, you’d be treated like a brand-new voter—and be blocked if you don’t have the right paperwork in hand.

It’s not just inconvenient. It’s a real barrier. And for some people, it means being completely shut out of the voting process.

What About Noncitizens Voting?

Let’s be clear: noncitizen voting is already illegal. Every voter has to sign an oath under penalty of perjury that they are a U.S. citizen. And states already have systems in place to keep the voter rolls clean.

There’s no evidence of widespread fraud. In fact, multiple audits have found that noncitizen voting is incredibly rare—we’re talking a handful of cases in millions of votes.

So the SAVE Act is trying to fix a problem that barely exists, while creating a much bigger one: voter suppression.

Who Does This Benefit?

Supporters of the bill say it’s about “election security.” But critics point out that it would make it much harder for everyday Americans to register and vote, especially if they move, change their name, or don’t have the right documents on hand.

And when voter turnout goes down, it often affects young people, people of color, low-income communities, and voters who move a lot. In other words, groups that some politicians might prefer to keep off the rolls.

Why This Matters

Voting is the foundation of our democracy. It should be accessible, safe, and secure—without putting up walls for people who are already eligible.

The SAVE Act isn’t about safeguarding anything. It’s about making it harder for people to participate in elections—and that’s a step backward.

Don’t just take my word for it:

SAVE Act Text

League of Women Voters

TL;DR

• The SAVE Act would require everyone to show a passport, birth certificate, or similar document just to register to vote

• Millions of eligible voters don’t have those documents handy

• It would hit military families, seniors, married women, people with low incomes, and disaster victims the hardest

• It tries to stop a problem that barely exists—while making it harder for real citizens to vote

Bottom line: Don’t let the name fool you. The SAVE Act isn’t about protecting your vote. It’s about taking it away.