The Alien Enemies Act, last used in WWII internments, is part of Trump's immigration plan

Former President Donald Trump continued his anti-immigration push, announcing on Friday a new plan called “Operation Aurora,” designed to remove undocumented immigrants by invoking a centuries-old act.

“We're here finally, in Aurora, Colorado to call the attention of the world ... to one of the most egregious betrayals that any leader in any nation has ever inflicted on its own people,” Trump said, attacking Vice President Kamala Harris on her immigration policies.

The anti-immigrant messaging from the Republican nominee comes with less than a month to go until Election Day as the Trump campaign has stepped-up its focus on immigration policies, with particular attention on Aurora and Springfield, Ohio to show how they may play out in the interior U.S.

The plan “Operation Aurora” invokes the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which was last used during World War II.

Here is what we know.

What is the Alien Enemies Act of 1798?

Trump's proposal relies on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which formed part of the Alien and Sedition Acts and were established during the presidency of John Adams.

The act was designed to allow the president to authorize the relocation, arrest or deportation of any man older than 14 years old who hailed from a country at war with the United States.

The Alien Enemies Act was supposed to expire with the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1801, but instead the Alien Enemies Act remained in effect and became part of the United States Code. 

The act was passed in order to supplement the Alien Friends Act which allowed the president to deport and non-citizen who was determined to be “dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.”

When was the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 used?

The act was first invoked by President James Madison during the War of 1812 against British nationals. It required them to report information such as their age, length of time in the United States, family description, occupation, and where they lived, among other identifying information.

The act was then used during World War I when President Woodrow Wilson invoked it against nationals of the Central Powers, which were the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria, in 1918 the act was amended to only apply to men, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.

During World War I, 6,000 German and other foreign nationals were placed in internment camps, according to the National Archives.

The act was also put into effect during World War II when President Franklin Roosevelt used them against Japanese, German and Italian Nationals. It led to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and required foreign nationals from all three countries to register with the government.

If enacted by former President Trump, it would be the first time the Alien Enemies Act would be in effect in more than eight decades.

What is Operation Aurora?

Trump announced "Operation Aurora" during a rally Friday in Colorado and said his administration would use the Alien Enemies Act to remove undocumented immigrants connected to gangs.

“We will send elite squads of ICE, Border Patrol and federal law enforcement officers to arrest and deport every last illegal alien gang member until there is not a single one left in this country,” Trump said.

In the same Friday rally, Trump said the death penalty should be used on any migrants who kill either a law enforcement officer or an American citizen. 

Policies such as “Operation Aurora” were also included in the official Republican party platform released ahead of the Republican National Convention in July.

Contributing: Karissa Waddick

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.