1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan immigrants without due process is unconstitutional and sets a dangerous precedent. This obscure wartime law has only been used a few times in US history when Congress declared war, never during peacetime. By ignoring a federal court order to stop these deportations, the administration is perpetrating a violation of immigrants' rights and undermining the rule of law. Of the 261 Venezuelans deported to the dangerous El Salvador prison CECOT, many had no criminal record or ties to the Tren de Aragua criminal organization cited as justification. Some were deported simply for having tattoos, without any evidence of wrongdoing. Families cannot locate many of the deported, who were denied any process to prove their innocence before being put on planes against court orders. This flagrant defiance of the judiciary branch creates a constitutional crisis that threatens core American values of due process and separation of powers. If allowed to stand, it could embolden even more egregious expansions of executive overreach against US citizens as well as immigrants. Swift congressional action to rein in this abuse of power and uphold the court's authority is urgently needed. Subpoenaing the officials involved and holding them accountable through a thorough investigation is crucial to reasserting constitutional checks and balances. The unlawful detention and deportation of innocent people based on ethnicity alone cannot be normalized. Inaction risks setting a precedent that could unravel fundamental rights for all.