§4202 — Title 50 War and National Defense | U.S. Code

Summary

Congress apologizes on behalf of the Nation for forcibly removing and interning U.S. citizens and permanent residents of Japanese ancestry during World War II. A government commission found those actions were not based on real security needs, found no evidence of spying or sabotage, and were driven mostly by racial prejudice, wartime panic, and poor political leadership. People of Japanese ancestry lost money, homes, schooling, and job training, and suffered great personal and emotional harm that has not been fully repaired. Congress also recognizes that Aleut civilians from the Pribilof Islands and the Aleutian Islands west of Unimak Island were moved to isolated camps in southeast Alaska during World War II and kept under U.S. control long after any danger passed. The United States did not give them proper care, which led to widespread illness and death, and did not protect their personal and community property. The Aleuts have not been adequately paid for those losses, and only a law passed by Congress can provide that compensation for harms caused by U.S. forces and officials.

Title 50, §4202

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Congress recognizes that, as described by the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, a grave injustice was done to both citizens and permanent resident aliens of Japanese ancestry by the evacuation, relocation, and internment of civilians during World War II. As the Commission documents, these actions were carried out without adequate security reasons and without any acts of espionage or sabotage documented by the Commission, and were motivated largely by racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and a failure of political leadership. The excluded individuals of Japanese ancestry suffered enormous damages, both material and intangible, and there were incalculable losses in education and job training, all of which resulted in significant human suffering for which appropriate compensation has not been made. For these fundamental violations of the basic civil liberties and constitutional rights of these individuals of Japanese ancestry, the Congress apologizes on behalf of the Nation.

(b)The Congress recognizes that, as described by the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, the Aleut civilian residents of the Pribilof Islands and the Aleutian Islands west of Unimak Island were relocated during World War II to temporary camps in isolated regions of southeast Alaska where they remained, under United States control and in the care of the United States, until long after any potential danger to their home villages had passed. The United States failed to provide reasonable care for the Aleuts, and this resulted in widespread illness, disease, and death among the residents of the camps; and the United States further failed to protect Aleut personal and community property while such property was in its possession or under its control. The United States has not compensated the Aleuts adequately for the conversion or destruction of personal property, and the conversion or destruction of community property caused by the United States military occupation of Aleut villages during World War II. There is no remedy for injustices suffered by the Aleuts during World War II except an Act of Congress providing appropriate compensation for those losses which are attributable to the conduct of United States forces and other officials and employees of the United States.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 1989a of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

§4202 Statement of the Congress

Summary

Title 50, §4202

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Editorial Notes

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