Source: Law & Liberty
by Robert G Natelson
“Even before President Trump invoked powers under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, the historical meaning of ‘alien enemy’ had become a topic of controversy, because the distinction between an alien enemy and an alien friend is also relevant in the context of immigration and birthright citizenship. Largely overlooked in this debate has been the legal doctrine that defines the difference between an alien enemy and an alien friend: the doctrine of allegiance, which our Founders inherited from English law. The English doctrine closely paralleled the international law concept of the same name. To understand the Alien Enemies Act, it is important to understand the Founding-era rules of allegiance and how they divide alien friends from alien enemies.” (03/25/25)
https://lawliberty.org/alien-enemies-alien-friends-and-the-concept-of-allegiance/