1778 and 1789 was a time of philosophical, political debate and conflict after George Washington relinquished the Presidency voluntarily to return to Mount Vernon resuming his cherished role as an American citizen.

John Adams, a Federalist, was president from 1796-1800 while Thomas Jefferson who had lost the presidency to John Adams was committed to defeating Adams in the election of 1800 to become president. The famous feuds between the Federalist’s beliefs, championed by John Adams, in a very strong, central government and the Democratic-Republican party’s beliefs, championed by Thomas Jefferson, in the power of the American people thus leaving most decisions to the States. This debate is still unresolved-concentrated federal power in the Executive Branch, in the President or dispersed power in the states with Congress and the Courts checking the executive power?

The Adams administration feared that there might soon be a war between the United States and France during the later period of the violent French Revolution which led to the passage of 4 laws commonly known as The Alien & Sedition Acts. These laws were extremely controversial at that time, and they still are. Of the 4 laws passed under the Adams administration, 3 either later expired or were repealed leaving only the Alien Enemies Act still in place today. That law limited freedom of speech and the press for foreign nationals in this country when that speech was critical of the President or the government. Here we are again debating the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as we are called to resolve the 250-year-old question still resonating from our Pluto Return (see earlier articles).

The United States expelled 26 people during the Adams presidency despite the reality that the feared French invasion never happened. The United States government has enforced the Alien Enemies Law 3 times-during the Civil War, World War 1 and World War 2. Even though the United States is not currently at war or imminently planning a war, this Act is still a law.

Foreign students here on visas, undocumented immigrants, immigrants in the country under temporary protected status are all, theoretically, subject to removal from the country if they are criticizing the US government or President. However, many court rulings have affirmed that the freedom of speech and expression given to all here in the United States by the First Amendment of the Constitution includes non-citizens as well as citizens.

Why is this little used law in our headlines now? Can the US chart provide a reason/any understanding? Yes, it can. While it may be difficult now to understand how scared the American people were in 1917/18 of our German citizens after Germany’s aggression was central to starting the conflict, it was both real and fed by our leaders and press.

The Russian Revolution’s success in installing Communism in 1917 also fed those fears. Again, the American people were scared and angry of our own Japanese citizens after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, seeing Japanese Americans as a potential 5th column right here in our country. Those fears, too, were powerful. Today many Americans are truly fearful of immigrants, gang members from Central and South America bringing drugs and violence here.

Looking back at the time during and just after World War 1 when the Wilson administration deported many foreign born critics of the American government; the internment of Japanese citizens during World War 2, we can see how unjustified our  fears were. Is our fear even more unjustified now as immigrants and foreign students are being rounded up for deportation for exercising their rights to free speech not a freedom to violence?

In the US destiny chart the 9th house describes our relationship with immigration based on our beliefs and prejudices at the time, what we see as the truth of, the value of, the humanity of and the benefits of immigrants. Our US 9th house contains Neptune, the indicator of compassion, of caring for all of humanity, seeing all as God’s children worthy of freedom and opportunity.

Throughout much of American history, the US has needed, sought and often welcomed immigrants meeting the Neptunian ideal stated on the base of the Statue of Liberty. However, when the shadow side of Neptune rears its head the primal fears of the others, learned prejudices, even hate can motivate cruelty, violence and mass removal of immigrants making little to no distinction between those who may be dangerous (usually a small minority) and those who are law abiding, hardworking, who value family and community as we do. Our country has always needed immigrants to fill necessary jobs, to perform necessary services. The US Neptune has always offered the dream that this country could be the answer to immigrants seeking freedom. We are all dreamers here.

Over the last decade, there have been a parade of planets activating that old fear of the other, the other who may hurt us, take what’s ours, gain unfairly. These indicators will continue through 2025. By 2030-31 it may finally be possible to pass a responsible and effective Immigration Reform Law and to repeal the Alien Enemies Act.