Laws, like memories, often outlive the moments that created them. Some fade into obscurity, never again summoned into relevance. Others, however, resurface in unexpected and powerful ways when modern-day leaders find themselves reaching into the depths of legal archives to confront new perceived threats.
The Alien Enemies Act is one such relic: a centuries-old statute passed in the United States in 1798 that still breathes influence into today’s policies surrounding national security, immigration, and presidential authority. In recent months, this long-standing statute found its way back into headlines through its use against a transnational gang. And, yet, its past is even more revealing than its present.
Why has this law remained intact when so many others from its era have been repealed or replaced? And what does it mean for our current generation? Click through this gallery to find out.