The White House's new site about 'aliens' has nothing to do with UFOs

A new White House website, aliens.gov, uses exaggerated and provocative language to describe undocumented immigrants as 'aliens,' referencing extraterrestrial themes and invoking the tone of *The X-Files*. The site declares 'they do not belong here' and urges deportation, framing the issue as an 'invasion' while dismissing any connection to actual UFOs or extraterrestrial encounters. The term 'aliens' has historical roots in U.S. law, dating back to the 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts, which targeted noncitizens during wartime. California removed the term from its state code in 2021, calling it outdated and derogatory. The website’s use of the word—paired with phrases like 'we will take care of it'—has drawn criticism for dehumanizing immigrants and potentially inciting hate. Experts argue the page reflects a broader pattern of anti-immigrant rhetoric wrapped in satirical or meme-like communication, normalizing hostility under the guise of humor. Ernesto Castañeda, director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at American University, warned the language instills fear and could embolden profiling or violence against undocumented individuals. Shannon McGregor, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, described the site as propaganda with authoritarian undertones, tying its messaging to white supremacist ideologies. She noted the explicit framing of immigrants as a threat to American families and communities, a departure from previous, less direct anti-immigrant rhetoric. The website’s release follows the Trump administration’s earlier declassification of UFO-related documents, though it deliberately avoids any connection to extraterrestrial life. Instead, it weaponizes the term 'alien' to stoke anti-immigrant sentiment, blending pop culture references with political messaging. Critics emphasize the dangers of such language, arguing it risks legitimizing discrimination while masking its intent behind a veneer of dark humor.