Manzanar Committee statement to condemn Trump’s mass deportations using The Alien Enemies Act of 1798

Today the Manzanar Committee joined other leaders in the Japanese American and Immigrant Rights community to condemn Trump’s mass deportations using The Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

The following is a statement shared by the Manzanar Committee co-chair Bruce Embrey:

The Manzanar Committee is here today to condemn the Trump administration’s misuse of outdated and draconian laws for immigration enforcement. The use of the Alien Enemies Act and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, an undemocratic remnant of the McCarthy period that has been used to detain Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student, represents a dangerous escalation of the administration’s attacks on civil liberties.

These actions are more than an echo of what our families experienced during WWII when the US military was used to incarcerate 125,000 persons of Japanese Ancestry in concentration camps. It’s important to remember before forcibly removing our families, our government and the media whipped up racist and xenophobic hysteria to demonize our community. In fact, the government fabricated an entire narrative claiming the forced removal was based on military necessity and national security. This lie, challenged at the time by America’s intelligence services, was not fully debunked until the 1970s after years of organizing for justice.

Furthermore, when we hear the head of ICE declare: “We’re not stopping. I don’t care what judges think,” everyone should be alarmed. If the Trump administration refuses to follow judges’ orders, we are clearly in a constitutional crisis.

The Manzanar Committee will continue to challenge the lies being told about immigrants and refugees. We will not stand by and watch while other communities are attacked like we were. We will remind America of what can happen when our constitution is tossed aside or when the rule of law no longer matters. Our story tells us our country is stronger, our democracy more vibrant when the constitutional rights of all people are protected, immigrant and citizen alike, and the rule of law prevails.

Here is a video of the press conference livestream.