The **Alien Enemies Act** is not an organization but a federal law enacted in 1798 that grants the U.S. president wartime authority to detain, restrict, and deport non-U.S. citizens who are nationals of enemy countries during times of war or invasion. It specifically applies to individuals aged 14 and older who are citizens or subjects of a hostile nation present in the United States, enabling their apprehension and removal without a court hearing based solely on nationality[1][5][6]. Historically, the Act has been invoked only three times: during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II. In the World Wars, it served as the legal basis for detaining and deporting immigrants from Germany, Austria-Hungary, Japan, and Italy, often without due process. Notably, it underpinned the internment of Japanese Americans, a deeply controversial and condemned chapter in U.S. history[1][3][6]. The Act’s application has been criticized for its disregard of constitutional rights and modern international human rights obligations, including due process and protection against discrimination and persecution[4][7]. In recent developments, President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act in March 2025, citing a Venezuelan transnational terrorist group allegedly conducting hostile actions within the U.S. This invocation authorized rapid deportation and detention efforts targeting Venezuelan nationals linked to this group, though concerns were raised about broad application to many Venezuelan immigrants regardless of individual ties to terrorism[1][2][3][9]. The Act remains controversial today, regarded by many legal experts and human rights advocates as outdated and incompatible with current legal standards. It bypasses normal immigration procedures and protections, raising significant civil rights concerns and calls for repeal or reform[4][7][9]. In essence, the Alien Enemies Act is a historic wartime legal tool with a complex legacy, recently revived in the contemporary geopolitical context, sparking debate over balancing national security with