The US government has a long history of using crises to justify indefinite mass detention
The US Department of Justice has reportedly sought a broad expansion of its authority during emergencies—much like the one in which the country now finds itself. The new powers would allow the agency, among other things, to detain people indefinitely without trial.
A handful of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have already said they would block the request. And to some it might seem crazy to think the government would ever resort to such measures.
But the truth is that governments, both federal and local, are already flirting with emergency powers to fight the spread of coronavirus that contravene the rights residents normally take for granted. America has allowed indefinite detention before, and recently. And the current US president, Donald Trump, has made no secret of his views on executive power.
Last year, he claimed that Article II of the Constitution gave him “the right to do whatever I want as president.”
https://qz.com/1828695/us-history-of-using-crises-like-covid-19-to-justify-mass-detention/?utm_source=YPL&yptr=yahoo