San Francisco Board condemns federal use of Alien Enemies Act, urges repeal

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 8 adopted a resolution condemning the federal government's recent use of the Alien Enemies Act to detain and deport noncitizens, and called on Congress to pass legislation to repeal the statute.

The resolution, introduced and championed by Supervisor Connie Melgar, passed after public testimony from immigrant-rights groups, Japanese American community members with family histories of wartime arrests, and public defenders who described the policy as a violation of due process and human rights.

Why it matters: Board members and community speakers said the statute has a painful history, including use during World War II to arrest and incarcerate Japanese immigrants. Supporters argued the current use to detain Venezuelan nationals…