Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-102

§23 Jurisdiction of United States Courts and Judges

Title 50 › CHAPTER 3 — ALIEN ENEMIES › § 23

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

After the President issues a proclamation or rules, federal courts and judges must act when someone complains that an enemy alien living in their area is at large and threatens public safety or breaks those rules. The court must arrest and bring that person in, hold a full hearing, and if there is good reason, order the person removed from the United States, require a bond or promise for good behavior, place other legal restrictions, and keep the person detained until the order is carried out.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §23

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

After any such proclamation has been made, the several courts of the United States, having criminal jurisdiction, and the several justices and judges of the courts of the United States, are authorized and it shall be their duty, upon complaint against any alien enemy resident and at large within such jurisdiction or district, to the danger of the public peace or safety, and contrary to the tenor or intent of such proclamation, or other regulations which the President may have established, to cause such alien to be duly apprehended and conveyed before such court, judge, or justice; and after a full examination and hearing on such complaint, and sufficient cause appearing, to order such alien to be removed out of the territory of the United States, or to give sureties for his good behavior, or to be otherwise restrained, conformably to the proclamation or regulations established as aforesaid, and to imprison, or otherwise secure such alien, until the order which may be so made shall be performed.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification R.S. § 4069 derived from act July 6, 1798, ch. 66, § 2, 1 Stat. 577.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 23

Title 50, War and National Defense

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102