John, it's Ilhan Omar.
I’m officially reintroducing my Neighbors not Enemies Act in Congress, which would repeal the longstanding Alien Enemies Act.
Here’s the quick breakdown: The laws known as the ‘Alien and Sedition Acts’ were passed in 1787 with the explicit goal of politically targeting immigrants in our country.
While some of these laws were repealed, the Alien Enemies Act is still intact today. It was used to carry out Japanese internment during World War II. This outdated and xenophobic law is an offense to our values as a nation, which should stand as a refuge for those fleeing violence and persecution.
My bill would repeal the Alien Enemies Act and close policy loopholes that can be exploited at the expense of immigrant communities. We must learn from historical mistakes built on fear of the other and embrace a fair and just immigration system.
In solidarity,
Ilhan Omar