A Step Backward: The Alien Enemies Act Undermines Progress Toward a Modern Immigration System
Washington, D.C. – Voto Latino urges the Trump administration to act with restraint and avoid singling out Venezuelan immigrants as it expands visa restrictions. Rather than dusting off archaic laws like the Alien Enemies Act—blunt instruments in search of a problem that does not exist—the administration should focus on modernizing immigration laws to meet today’s challenges.
“The United States should not be using outdated and sweeping measures that erode due process and unfairly target immigrant communities,” said Maria Teresa Kumar, Co-founder and President of Voto Latino. “Policies like these foster fear and division while failing to address the real need for modernizing our immigration system.”
“The Alien Enemies Act, originally enacted in 1798, grants the president sweeping powers to detain and deport foreign nationals from countries deemed hostile. Extending such authority without clear justification risks turning American communities against one another and undermines core democratic values.
At a time when we should be looking forward and fixing our broken immigration system, this administration is looking backward and reviving laws that are ineffective in today’s world. This approach does nothing to solve real immigration challenges and only deepens division.
Voto Latino urges Congress and the public to reject these counterproductive policies and push for real solutions that treat all immigrant communities with dignity and fairness. Voto Latino remains committed to mobilizing voters and advocating for policies that reflect the values of a modern and inclusive America.”
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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.