Repeals the Alien Enemies Act, removing provisions that allowed for the apprehension, restraint, securing, and removal of alien enemies during times of war or declared invasion.
Ilhan Omar
Representative
MN-5
The "Neighbors Not Enemies Act" repeals the Alien Enemies Act, specifically removing sections 4067 through 4070 of the Revised Statutes of the United States. This eliminates the outdated provisions that allowed for the apprehension, restraint, securing, and removal of alien enemies during times of war or declared invasion.
Neighbors Not Enemies Act: Alien Enemies Act Repealed, Removing Wartime Detention Powers
The Neighbors Not Enemies Act fully repeals the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) of 1798, eliminating the government's power to arrest, detain, and deport non-citizen residents whose home countries are at war with the U.S (sections 4067 through 4070 of the Revised Statutes). The old law applied to any "natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects" aged 14 and older of a hostile nation. The AEA was part of a set of laws known as the Alien and Sedition Acts.
End of an Era
The repeal wipes away a broad authority previously used to target specific groups. The Alien Enemies Act has a history of being used to justify discriminatory actions, most notably the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. While any males over 14 from "enemy" countries could be detained, the reality of how this played out was not always fair or consistent. This repeal closes that chapter.
Real-World Impact
Imagine a software engineer originally from a country suddenly in conflict with the U.S. Under the old law, this individual, despite living and working legally here, could have faced detention or deportation simply due to their nationality. Or consider a small business owner, a permanent resident, who is suddenly labeled an "enemy alien." The repeal ensures that legal residents and others from these countries won't face such risks based solely on their origin. It means individuals can't be rounded up and detained without specific charges or due process, simply because of where they were born.
Bigger Picture
This change aligns U.S. law more closely with principles of due process and equal protection. It signals a move away from policies that could enable broad-based discrimination during times of conflict. By repealing this act, the U.S. reinforces the idea that legal residents deserve fair treatment, regardless of international tensions. The challenge, of course, will be maintaining national security without resorting to measures that could unfairly target groups based on nationality. But the Neighbors Not Enemies Act makes a clear statement: blanket detentions based on national origin are off the table.