Neighbors Not Enemies Act

House Bill

H.R. 630

119th Congress

Neighbors Not Enemies Act

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 10, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Ilhan Omar

D - MN

Cosponsors

63

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Immigration

Summary

This bill repeals provisions of law that allow the President to apprehend and remove citizens of a nation with which the United States is at war or that has threatened invasion. These provisions date back to the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and were used to intern Japanese, German, and Italian nationals during World War II.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill repeals provisions of law that allow the President to apprehend and remove citizens of a nation with which the United States is at war or that has threatened invasion. These provisions date back to the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and were used to intern Japanese, German, and Italian nationals during World War II.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Neighbors Not Enemies Act This bill repeals provisions authorizing the President to apprehend and remove from the United States the citizens of a particular nation, if the United States has declared war against that nation or that nation has threatened an invasion against the United States.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Repeals Alien Enemies Act authority
Removes wartime citizen removal powers
Ends authority from 1798 law
Prevents detention based on nationality during war
Addresses historical internment authority

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

The executive branch would lose authority to detain and remove foreign nationals solely based on their country of origin during wartime. This addresses the legal basis used for Japanese internment and other WWII-era actions. Civil liberties groups support ending this dormant but still-existing authority.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Immigration

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

630, 119th Congress (2025). "Neighbors Not Enemies Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-630