Hirono Condemns Trump’s Invocation of Antiquated Xenophobic Law Targeting Immigrants

~ The Alien Enemies Act (AEA) of 1798 has been used to target innocent immigrants based on nothing more than national origin, without affording due process rights ~
Sen. Hirono: “Donald Trump is not making anyone safer by resorting to unlawful actions that only inflict further chaos on our immigration system, immigrant communities, and our country.”
WASHINGTON, DC– Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate lead of theNeighbors Not Enemies Act, released the following statement condemning Trump’sdecisionto invoke the antiquated, xenophobicAlien Enemies Act(AEA) of 1798:
“Relying on draconian laws, such as the Alien Enemies Act, leads to lawsuits and injunctions, while doing nothing to keep our country safe. Using a wartime authority during peacetime to get around our country’s immigration laws, without meeting any of the criteria required to invoke this antiquated, xenophobic law, is as misguided as it is unlawful.
“Unsurprisingly, this latest unlawful action by President Trump has already been challenged in court. Our immigration laws can already hold gang members accountable, but this administration has repeatedly used this pretext to demand sweeping new powers to evade due process. Donald Trump is not making anyone safer by resorting to unlawful actions that only inflict further chaos on our immigration system, immigrant communities, and our country.”
In 1798, President John Adams signed the “Alien and Sedition Acts” which was comprised of four bills targeting immigrants under the guise of war. The original four bills included: TheNaturalization Act; theAlien Friends Act; theSedition Act; and theAlien Enemies Act. Today, theAliens Enemies Act(AEA) is the only one that remains in effect. The AEA allows the president to target foreign nationals of a specific country to be “apprehended, restrained, secured and removed” without due process during wartime.
Senator Hirono is a leading champion in the fight for comprehensive immigration reform and continues to advocate on behalf of immigrant communities in Hawaii and across the country. Earlier this year, she and Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN)reintroducedtheNeighbors Not Enemies Act, legislation that would finally repeal the AEA. Senator Hirono has led the introduction of this bill in the116th,117th,118thCongresses.
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