March 17, 2025- Washington, D.C.— On Saturday, President Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to expedite deportations of Venezuelans. The Truman National Security Project issues the following statement in response: ‍

“President Trump’s use of wartime powers to speed up deportations without due process is an egregious abuse of power that undermines the rule of law in our country. The Alien Enemies Act only applies to foreign nationals of a country invading the U.S. or with which we are at war, and that is clearly not the case with Venezuela. The President’s declaration would establish an alarming precedent that he can unilaterally ignore federal immigration law and deport thousands–or even millions–of people without a court hearing. Furthermore, this action opens the door for the President to claim and abuse other emergency wartime powers when the country is at peace.

“The Alien Enemies Act has an ugly and shameful history that we now risk repeating. In the past, wielding this law resulted in mass violations of civil liberties. During World War II, the Act was used to imprison 31,000 noncitizens of Japanese, German, and Italian descent in internment camps for years without due process and based principally on their ethnicity. It is a dangerous power that is all too easily abused and should not be used as a substitute for routine immigration enforcement.

“We also note with alarm the reports that the Administration ignored a court order to return the deported Venezuelan nationals to the United States. If confirmed, this would be a shocking escalation of the Administration’s descent into authoritarianism and a clear violation of the U.S. legal tradition of due process, enshrined in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, that ensures fairness and protects individuals from government actions that deprive them of life, liberty, or property without following fair procedures. Refusing to obey binding court orders is a sign of a failing democracy, and we strongly condemn any such assault on the rule of law here at home.” ‍

The Truman National Security Project unites veteran, frontline civilian, political, and policy leaders to develop and advance strong, smart, and principled solutions to America's global challenges.‍

Contact Information:
Truman National Security Project
Angelic Young
press@trumanproject.org

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