It seems that you are referring to the Alien and Sedition Acts, which were a series of laws enacted in the United States in the late 18th century, specifically in 1798. Here's a brief overview of the key components:
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Immigration Restrictions: The acts made it more difficult for immigrants to become U.S. citizens by extending the residency requirement from 5 years to 14 years.
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Deportation and Imprisonment: They allowed the President to imprison or deport aliens deemed dangerous, particularly those from countries that were seen as a threat to national security.
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Sedition Laws: The acts included provisions that prohibited speech or writing that was considered seditious or defamatory toward the government, particularly targeting criticisms of the President and Congress.
The Alien and Sedition Acts were highly controversial and seen as an infringement on individual rights, leading to significant political backlash and contributing to the decline of the Federalist Party which supported these measures.