President Donald Trump is expected to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a rarely used law allowing for the detention and removal of individuals from foreign nations deemed a security threat. The move, aimed at expediting deportations of illegal immigrants linked to criminal activity, has already sparked strong reactions from political opponents.
The plan is expected to focus on Venezuelan nationals tied to the Tren de Aragua gang, a violent organization accused of crimes in multiple American cities. The group has been declared a terrorist organization by the administration, and reports suggest some members may be held at Guantánamo Bay.
HERE WE GO AGAIN 🚨 A Federal Judge is preparing to BLOCK Donald Trump’s new order
“President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act today. Now, a federal judge is considering a wide-reaching order to block him from deporting non-citizens”
Activist Judges are OUT OF CONTROL pic.twitter.com/jcftLOOpuB
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) March 15, 2025
The Alien Enemies Act, originally created during tensions between the U.S. and France, has been used in conflicts such as World War II. Under its provisions, the president can authorize the removal of individuals from nations engaged in acts of war or hostile incursions against the U.S. Trump’s team is citing the “predatory incursion” clause of the law to justify its application to Venezuela.
🚨JUST ANNOUNCED: President Trump invokes Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand U.S. authority to arrest and deport nationals of an enemy nation during wartime
Promise Made. Promise Kept.
"I will invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target and dismantle every migrant criminal… pic.twitter.com/41VqgE8iGb
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) March 15, 2025
Democrats have pushed back, claiming the administration is misinterpreting the law. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) signed a letter arguing that an invasion must involve armed aggression by another state, a definition they insist does not apply to migration. Their letter does not address the term “predatory incursion,” which is also included in the law.
Trump’s administration has already taken aggressive steps on immigration enforcement. More than 32,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested in just 50 days since he took office. The administration previously invoked emergency powers to build the border wall and used Title 42 to expel migrants during the pandemic.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to take action against violent gangs operating in the U.S. “We will dismantle every migrant criminal network,” he told supporters. His administration’s latest move suggests he is following through on that promise.
The White House has yet to release full details on the upcoming policy, but press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that deportation flights are already underway.
