Skye Perryman on MSNBC: “To invoke this act in an unprecedented fashion is not only unlawful, it is deeply harmful and it threatens all people in this country”
Skye Perryman on CNN: “Every American in this country should be concerned about the President of the United States seeking to use wartime authority in a time when we are not being invaded and we are not at war”
Skye Perryman on NPR: “The Trump administration is seeking to circumvent the process that we have in our country in order to just expand power”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over the weekend, Democracy Forward, the American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of District of Columbia sued the Trump administration over the president’s unlawful and unprecedented invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. The lawsuit, J.G.G. v. Trump, challenges the president’s use of the Act—which has been invoked only in times of declared war—to remove people from the country without due process.
To schedule an interview with Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward, please email press@democracyforward.org
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MSNBC’s Ana Cabrera Reports: Trump invoking wartime Alien Enemies Act ‘threatens all people’ in U.S.: Lawyer
On Trump’s Lawless Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act:
“I think that it’s important for all Americans to understand this is a crucial moment. This is not normal. It is not normal for a president to invoke wartime powers in the middle of a time when the United States has not been invaded and is not at war. The Alien Enemies Act is responsible for some of the darkest days in United States history […] To invoke this act in an unprecedented fashion is not only unlawful, it is deeply harmful and it threatens all people in this country.
“Instead of going through that [legal] process, which of course the President would do if he were confident that these individuals shouldn’t belong in the country, he has sought to circumvent it with a lawless action to invoke the Alien Enemies Act”
CNN News Central: Judge Demands Answers from DOJ on Disputed Deportation Flights
On Trump’s Dangerous Misuse of Authority and Violation of Legal Process:
“Every American in this country should be concerned about the President of the United States seeking to use wartime authority in a time when we are not being invaded and we are not at war. What Trump is trying to do is a misuse of authority that’s only ever been used three times: in the War of 1812, in World War I, and in World War II. “
“No one wants to live in a country where people are not safe. But what the administration has done here is they are seeking to deport people who have had no process. If they were confident that people were dangerous to public safety, they could go through the process that the President has in order to be able to take law enforcement action against individuals. That’s not what they’re doing here by invoking this act. They’re seeking to try to sidestep that process.”
On Trump’s Call to Impeach Judges who Rule Against Administration
“There are certain provisions in our laws that allow for congressional engagement with our judges but it is not just because you disagree with a judge’s order. This is an attempt to politicize and an attempt to undermine the rights of all people.”
NPR Morning Edition: Trump invoking Alien Enemies Act to deport is ‘a threat to everyone,’ lawyer argues
On Administration’s Unprecedented Circumvention of Due Process:
“The individuals, as we understand that they are seeking right now to remove, are already in custody in some way, but the Trump administration is seeking to circumvent the process that we have in our country in order to just expand power and do something with no process at all. So that’s highly concerning. We’ve not ever been in this situation in the country.”
On Public Opposition to Trump’s Defiance of Courts:
“The vast majority of Americans and the vast majority of Republicans, when they were asked, including last month, agree that presidents should follow court orders. And so we believe this is a real crisis point and we’re looking forward to raising these issues before the court.”
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About Democracy Forward
Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.