50 U.S.C. § 4202: Statement of the Congress

Summary

Congress accepts a federal commission’s finding that U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens of Japanese ancestry were wrongly removed from their homes and held in camps during World War II. The commission found no evidence of spying or sabotage and said the actions grew out of racial bias, wartime fear, and failed leadership. Those people lost property, schooling, and job training and suffered lasting harm. Congress apologizes to them on the Nation’s behalf. Congress also accepts the commission’s finding that Aleut residents of the Pribilof Islands and the Aleutian Islands west of Unimak Island were moved to remote camps in southeast Alaska and kept there under U.S. control after any danger had passed. The United States did not provide proper care and failed to protect or fairly compensate for personal and community property taken, damaged, or destroyed. Only an Act of Congress can provide compensation for losses caused by U.S. forces and officials.

Title 50, §4202

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(a)With regard to individuals of Japanese ancestry

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)With respect to the Aleuts

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

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

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