1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport hundreds of immigrants, including alleged Venezuelan gang members, even after a federal judge issued an order temporarily barring the deportations, is deeply concerning. This 18th century wartime law, which has been invoked only three times in U.S. history during major wars, grants the president extraordinary powers to detain or remove foreigners without due process. Its use in this case appears to be an overreach of executive authority and a violation of constitutional rights. The administration's actions undermine the rule of law and the checks and balances established by the separation of powers. Ignoring a court order and deporting individuals before they have the opportunity to make their case in court is a flagrant disregard for legal processes and principles of justice. Furthermore, the lack of transparency and evidence provided to substantiate the claims that the deported individuals are members of a criminal gang raises serious concerns about potential human rights violations and arbitrary detention. It is imperative that the administration respects the authority of the judiciary and complies with court orders. Circumventing legal processes and denying individuals due process sets a dangerous precedent and erodes the foundations of our democratic system. I urge you to take action to hold the administration accountable for these concerning actions and to ensure the protection of civil liberties and the rule of law.