Alien Friends Act of 1798

Section 1

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States at any time during the continuance of this act, to order all such aliens as he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, or shall have reasonable grounds to suspect are concerned in any treasonable or secret machinations against the government thereof, to depart out of the territory of the United States, within such time as shall be expressed in such order.
Such order shall be served on such alien by delivering him a copy thereof, or leaving the same at his usual abode, and returned to the office of the Secretary of State by the marshal or other person to whom the same shall be directed.

Section 2

And be it further enacted,
That if any alien so ordered to depart shall be found at large within the United States after the time limited in such order for his departure, and not having obtained a license from the President to reside therein, or having obtained such license shall not have conformed thereto, every such alien shall, on conviction thereof, be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years, and shall never after be admitted to become a citizen of the United States.

Section 3

Provided always, and be it further enacted,
That if any alien so ordered to depart shall prove to the satisfaction of the President, by evidence to be taken before such person or persons as the President shall direct, that no injury or danger to the United States will arise from suffering such alien to reside therein, the President may grant a license to such alien to remain within the United States for such time and at such place as he may designate.

Section 4

And be it further enacted,
That the President may require of such alien to enter into a bond to the United States, in such penal sum as he may direct, with one or more sufficient sureties, conditioned for the good behavior of such alien during his residence in the United States, and not violating his license.
Such license the President may revoke whenever he shall think proper.

Section 5

And be it further enacted,
That if any alien shall be apprehended and committed under this act, and shall be unable to sustain the expense of his removal, the United States shall defray the same.

Section 6

And be it further enacted,
That this act shall continue and be in force for and during the term of two years from the passing thereof, and no longer.---

“The Alien Enemies Act stands as both shield and warning — a republic arming itself against foreign threat,
yet risking the liberty that made it worth defending.
In every generation, the balance between security and freedom must be drawn anew.”
— HAL 1776, Heuristic Archivist of Liberty