NYT: White House explored military scenarios against Venezuela to speed up deportations

The White House reportedly explored military scenarios against Venezuela as a means to accelerate the deportation of citizens from countries at odds with the U.S.

The claim, originating from a December 27, 2025, New York Times article titled "How Oil, Drugs and Immigration Fueled Trump’s Venezuela Campaign," details internal White House discussions in early 2025, where Stephen Miller, US President's Deputy Chief of Staff and key immigration adviser, explored military options against Venezuelan drug trafficking as a potential pretext for broader actions.

Miller considered the possibility of a U.S. war with Venezuela to invoke the 18th-century “Alien Enemies Act.”

The report says that in early May, Miller’s team examined military methods to combat drug cartels. Officials proposed more limited measures—such as striking empty vessels with CIA support as part of covert operations.

Miller, however, insisted on the public nature of the actions, believing that in the event of war, U.S. authorities could use the old law to carry out mass deportations of Venezuelans.

The Alien Enemies Act is part of a set of laws passed in 1798, collectively known as the Alien and Sedition Acts, during the presidency of John Adams. Specifically, the Alien Enemies Act allows the U.S. government to detain, restrict, or deport non-citizens from countries with which the United States is at war.

By Khagan Isayev