Legal Definitions - enemy alien

An enemy alien is a person who is a citizen or resident of a country that is at war with another country. This term is used to describe someone who is considered an enemy because of their nationality or allegiance.

• During World War II, Japanese Americans were considered enemy aliens and were forced to live in internment camps.
• An Italian citizen living in the United States during World War I would have been considered an enemy alien.

These examples illustrate how someone can be labeled an enemy alien based on their nationality or country of origin, regardless of their individual actions or beliefs.

Enemy's property refers to property that is used in illegal commerce or trading with a public enemy, whether that property belongs to an ally or a citizen. This term is commonly used in prize courts, where the property can be subject to penal consequences.

If a US citizen is caught trading with an enemy country during a time of war, their property could be seized and considered enemy's property. This illustrates how the illegal traffic of goods can make property hostile and subject to legal consequences.