Aliens Act 1793
Encyclopedia
The Aliens Act 1793 was an Act
of the Parliament of Great Britain
regulating immigration into the country. The Act, inspired by a sharp increase in refugees from the French Revolution
seeking asylum in Great Britain
, required that aliens be recorded upon arrival and to register with the local justice of the peace. It further held that violators of the act could be held without bail
or mainprise
, either to be deported or as punishment, a provision that caused critics to decry it as a suspension of habeas corpus
; indeed, its sponsor in Parliament had earlier called it "a bill for suspending the Habeas Corpus Act, as far as it should relate to the persons of foreigners."
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
regulating immigration into the country. The Act, inspired by a sharp increase in refugees from the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
seeking asylum in Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
, required that aliens be recorded upon arrival and to register with the local justice of the peace. It further held that violators of the act could be held without bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
or mainprise
Mainprise
Mainprise is a concept in English law regarding the release of a prisoner from custody upon sureties pending trial. It is nearly identical to the concept of bail and has been absorbed into the laws regulating bail in many jurisdictions...
, either to be deported or as punishment, a provision that caused critics to decry it as a suspension of habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
; indeed, its sponsor in Parliament had earlier called it "a bill for suspending the Habeas Corpus Act, as far as it should relate to the persons of foreigners."