Trump’s new ‘Aliens’ website exploits UFO intrigue to demean immigrants
Trump’s New ‘Aliens’ Website Exploits UFO Intrigue to Demean Immigrants
Trump s new Aliens website exploits – In March, the Trump administration registered the domains Aliens.gov and Alien.gov, sparking speculation among UFO enthusiasts that the move might signal a breakthrough in the government’s relationship with extraterrestrial life. However, the recent launch of Aliens.gov has revealed a different intent: to weaponize the allure of alien encounters and frame immigrants as outsiders. The site, launched last week, offers no substantial insights into UFO phenomena but instead serves as a platform to mock undocumented immigrants, blending science fiction with political rhetoric.
The Role of ‘Alien’ in U.S. Immigration Law
The website’s title, “THEY WALK AMONG US,” is rendered in bold, neon green text, immediately capturing attention with a sense of urgency and mystery. As the page loads, a cascade of scrolling text begins: “For 60 years, the U.S. government has kept a closely guarded secret. Aliens have been living in our neighborhoods, interacting with us in our daily lives.” This narrative mirrors the conspiracy theories often associated with UFOs, yet it shifts focus from cosmic beings to human migrants. The site also incorporates fake “declassified” labels and a reference to The X-Files, lending it an air of authenticity while masking its political agenda.
“THEY WALK AMONG US,” the site declares in large, neon green text. Crawling type then starts to fill the screen: “For 60 years, the U.S. government has kept a closely guarded secret. Aliens have been walking among us, living in our neighborhoods, and interacting with us in our daily lives.”
Alongside these elements, the site features an interactive map that tracks “alien encounters”—a term used to describe purported arrests of immigrants. Users are invited to report “suspicious aliens,” further amplifying the perception of immigrants as threats. The White House’s announcement of the site on X included an AI-generated animation depicting a UFO lifting an undocumented immigrant over the southern border wall, visually reinforcing the idea that aliens are both literal and metaphorical invaders.
A Legacy of Rhetorical Wordplay
Trump’s use of the word “alien” in this context is not unprecedented. Recently, he shared an AI image showing himself walking beside a chiseled alien in shackles, a clear nod to his rhetoric on immigration. This playful manipulation of language taps into a historical pattern where “alien” has been employed to dehumanize those perceived as foreign. Before it became associated with extraterrestrial life, the term carried a legal definition rooted in 14th-century English, borrowed from Latin and French. It denoted a person residing within a country’s borders but not its citizen.
“Alien” entered into English from Latin and French around the 14th century and over the years took on a specific legal meaning. Black’s Law Dictionary defines an alien as ‘a person who resides within the borders of a country but is not a citizen or subject of that country.’
This legal term has evolved into a powerful tool for political discourse. In the United States, the word first appeared in the Naturalization Act of 1790, which set criteria for citizenship, including the requirement that applicants be “free white persons.” The Alien and Sedition Acts of the 18th century further cemented its role in shaping immigration policy, restricting citizenship, expanding presidential authority to detain foreigners, and criminalizing dissent. Trump’s continued invocation of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which targets Venezuelan migrants, underscores a deliberate connection to historical anti-immigrant measures.
From Bureaucratic Term to Cultural Symbol
Historically, “alien” functioned primarily as a bureaucratic designation, used to classify non-citizens for administrative purposes. However, its meaning shifted in the mid-20th century, particularly in reference to Mexican laborers on temporary visas. According to Michael Lechuga, a University of New Mexico professor and author of Visions of Invasion: Alien Affects, Cinema, and Citizenship in Settler Colonies, the term gained a more pejorative connotation during this period. Many workers discovered that the farms or companies they had been contracted to work for had already filled their labor quotas, leading to their classification as “illegal aliens” and subsequent deportation.
“The term really did come about in this enforcement around laws that were around one’s status as a laborer, but also really out of their control,” he adds.
Lechuga notes that this redefinition of “alien” was not merely a legal matter but also a cultural one, shaping public perception of immigrants as outsiders. The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which replaced national origin quotas with a skill-based system, further popularized the term. While the law opened doors for both authorized and unauthorized immigration from Mexico, the label “illegal alien” became entrenched in mainstream discourse, often used to justify restrictive policies.
Exploiting Fear and Fascination
The Trump administration’s new site leverages the dual appeal of UFO fascination and xenophobic sentiment. By combining the mystery of extraterrestrial life with the concrete reality of immigration, it creates a narrative that frames immigrants as both alien and a threat to national security. The visual of a UFO beaming up an undocumented immigrant, paired with the language of “alien encounters,” taps into the public’s imagination, making the argument that immigrants are not just foreign but otherworldly.
Historians like Mai Ngai, author of Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America, highlight how the term “illegal alien” has been used to justify harsh immigration policies. Even during the 1980 presidential debate, when George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan were asked about the educational rights of children of undocumented immigrants, both candidates employed the term while advocating for pathways to legalization. This demonstrates the term’s versatility—capable of both inclusion and exclusion, depending on context.
By rebranding immigrants as “aliens,” the administration transforms a complex social issue into a spectacle. The website’s design, with its exaggerated visual elements and simplistic narratives, reduces the human experience to a series of “encounters,” evoking fear and reinforcing the idea that immigrants are a problem to be solved. This approach not only simplifies public understanding but also amplifies the emotional impact of the message, aligning with the broader strategy of using rhetoric to stoke xenophobia.
Broader Implications of Language in Policy
While the site is a recent example, the strategic use of language in immigration policy has long been a tool for shaping public opinion. Terms like “alien” carry historical weight, linking contemporary issues to past legislation. The shift from a neutral bureaucratic term to a charged, emotionally resonant word reflects a deliberate effort to redefine immigrants as outsiders. This linguistic maneuvering, combined with visual and technological elements like AI-generated content, creates a compelling narrative that aligns with the administration’s goals.
As the debate over immigration continues, the use of terms like “alien” remains central to the discourse. Whether in legal documents or public platforms, these words carry the power to influence perceptions and policies. Trump’s Aliens.gov site exemplifies this trend, using the intrigue of UFOs to cast immigrants in a new light—one that is both familiar and unsettling. The result is a blend of science fiction and political strategy, designed to reshape the conversation around immigration in the United States.
Ultimately, the website serves as a microcosm of how language can be weaponized in politics. By co-opting the language of extraterrestrial life, it transforms the everyday experiences of immigrants into a cosmic narrative, making them seem like an existential threat. This manipulation not only simplifies the issue but also deepens the divide, ensuring that the message resonates with those who view immigrants as a disruption to the status quo.
