(Image Credit: IMAGN) President Donald Trump holds up an executive order that renames a wildlife sanctuary in honor of the late Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12 year-old girl who was allegedly murdered by two undocumented migrants, during an address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025.
Washington D.C. – Representative Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, joined fellow Democratic lawmakers Thursday in reintroducing the “Neighbors Not Enemies Act,” a legislative effort aimed at repealing the long-standing Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This move comes amidst growing concerns that the Trump administration intends to utilize the archaic law to expedite mass deportations.
The Alien Enemies Act, enacted over 220 years ago during the presidency of John Adams, grants the president the authority to detain or deport citizens of a nation deemed an enemy during times of war or “imminent threat.” Passed as part of the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts, the law was originally intended by the Federalist Party to suppress support for the Democratic-Republican party, which was popular among newly arrived immigrants.
“The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 is a draconian, wartime law that gives presidents unprecedented powers to deport immigrants without a court hearing or an asylum interview,” Vargas stated. “Now, Trump is threatening to exploit this outdated law to carry out his mass detention and deportation plans.”
Vargas and his colleagues argue that the law is ripe for abuse, drawing parallels to its use during World War II when Japanese Americans were forcibly interned. They fear the Trump administration will similarly wield this power to target specific immigrant communities.
“We’ve already seen innocent families and hard-working people with no criminal record swept up in his anti-immigrant agenda,” Vargas added. “We need to pass this bill to protect the rights and due process of immigrants here in San Diego County and across the country.”
The legislation is co-authored by Representatives Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, and Senator Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, both of whom are immigrants themselves. The bill also has co-sponsorship from Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego. While the other acts within the Alien and Sedition Acts – the Alien Friends Act, Naturalization Act, and Sedition Act – have been repealed, the Alien Enemies Act has remained in effect, allowing for unilateral presidential action during perceived threats.
According to reports from CNN, the Trump administration’s focus is primarily on the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan organized crime group with a presence in the United States. This has caused concern that all Venezuelan citizens within the U.S. could be affected.
Supporters of the “Neighbors Not Enemies Act” emphasize the importance of due process and the protection of immigrant rights, arguing that the 1798 law undermines these fundamental principles.
The bill seeks to remove the potential for arbitrary detention and deportation, ensuring that immigrants are afforded the same legal protections as citizens. The debate surrounding this legislation highlights the ongoing tension between national security concerns and the preservation of civil liberties in the context of immigration policy.
