U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono and U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar have reintroduced the Neighbors Not Enemies Act, aiming to repeal the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This legislation has been criticized for targeting immigrants based on national origin without due process rights.
Senator Hirono stated, “In his war on immigrants, Donald Trump has made clear that he will stop at nothing to carry out mass deportations, including invoking the archaic, little known Alien Enemies Act of 1798.” She emphasized that the new act seeks to prevent deportations without basic due process.
The Alien and Sedition Acts were originally signed by President John Adams in 1798 as a series of four bills targeting immigrants during wartime. Currently, only the Alien Enemies Act remains in effect.
The Neighbors Not Enemies Act is supported in the Senate by Senators Cory Booker, Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, Ed Markey, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren.
Senator Hirono continues her advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform with previous efforts such as introducing the Reuniting Families Act with Senator Tammy Duckworth and leading initiatives like the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024 with Senator Susan Collins.
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