A little-known law from 1798 could be a key part of Trump’s deportation plans

President-elect Donald Trump has promised to invoke a little-known, 226-year-old law to deport some immigrants from the US. But legal experts who spoke with CNN say attempts to invoke the law could face an uphill battle in court.

President-elect Donald Trump has promised to invoke a little-known, 226-year-old law when he returns to power. John Adams was president when Congress first approved the measure. The US consisted of just 16 states. And a war with France seemed to be looming. “This is how far we had to go back, because in those days, we didn’t play games,” Trump said at a November 4 rally. “I will invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target and dismantle every migrant criminal network operating on American soil.” Trump has claimed the law will give his administration “tremendous authority” and allow officials to “remove all known or suspected gang members, drug dealers, or cartel members from the United States.” Legal experts who spoke with CNN say attempts to invoke the law could face an uphill battle in court. But given how frequently Trump referenced it while campaigning, and its presence in this year’s Republican Party platform, it’s likely we’ll be hearing about it more in the coming months. Here’s a look at some key questions and answers about the law that Trump has signaled will be part of his mass deportation plan.