Title 50War and National DefenseRelease 119-73not60

§4218 Definitions

Title 50 › Chapter 52— RESTITUTION FOR WORLD WAR II INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS AND ALEUTS › Subchapter I— UNITED STATES CITIZENS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY AND RESIDENT JAPANESE ALIENS › § 4218

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in this part of the law, mainly who is covered, what time is covered, and what groups or funds the words refer to. Evacuation, relocation, and internment period: the time from December 7, 1941, through June 30, 1946. Eligible individual: a person of Japanese ancestry, or their spouse or parent, who was alive on August 10, 1988, and who during that period was a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident and either was rounded up, held, moved, or lost liberty or property because of Executive Order No. 9066 (Feb. 19, 1942), the law of March 21, 1942 (56 Stat. 173), or any other U.S. action taken only because of Japanese ancestry, or was listed by the U.S. government as being in a prohibited military zone between December 7, 1941, and June 30, 1946. Permanent resident alien: a foreign national legally admitted to live in the United States permanently. Fund: the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund created in section 4214. Board: the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board of Directors created in section 4216. Commission: the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians created by Public Law 96–317 (50 U.S.C. App. 1981 note).

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §4218

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For the purposes of this subchapter—
(1)the term “evacuation, relocation, and internment period” means that period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on June 30, 1946;
(2)the term “eligible individual” means any individual of Japanese ancestry, or the spouse or a parent of an individual of Japanese ancestry, who is living on August 10, 1988, and who, during the evacuation, relocation, and internment period—
(A)was a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien; and
(B)(i)was confined, held in custody, relocated, or otherwise deprived of liberty or property as a result of—
(I)Executive Order Numbered 9066, dated February 19, 1942;
(II)the Act entitled “An Act to provide a penalty for violation of restrictions or orders with respect to persons entering, remaining in, leaving, or committing any act in military areas or zones”, approved March 21, 1942 (56 Stat. 173); or
(III)any other Executive order, Presidential proclamation, law of the United States, directive of the Armed Forces of the United States, or other action taken by or on behalf of the United States or its agents, representatives, officers, or employees, respecting the evacuation, relocation, or internment of individuals solely on the basis of Japanese ancestry; or
(ii)was enrolled on the records of the United States Government during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on June 30, 1946, as being in a prohibited military zone;
(3)the term “permanent resident alien” means an alien lawfully admitted into the United States for permanent residence;
(4)the term “Fund” means the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund established in section 4214 of this title;
(5)the term “Board” means the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board of Directors established in section 4216 of this title; and
(6)the term “Commission” means the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, established by the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians Act (Public Law 96–317; 50 U.S.C. App. 1981 note).11 See References in Text note below.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Executive Order Numbered 9066, dated
February 19, 1942, referred to in par. (2)(B)(i)(I), is not classified to the Code. The Act entitled “An Act to provide a penalty for violation of restrictions or orders with respect to persons entering, remaining in, leaving, or committing any act in military areas or zones”, approved
March 21, 1942 (56 Stat. 173), referred to in par. (2)(B)(i)(II), is act Mar. 21, 1942, ch. 191, 56 Stat. 173, which was classified to section 97a of former Title 18, Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure, and was repealed by act of
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, § 21, 62 Stat. 868 and reenacted as section 1383 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure. Section 1383 of Title 18 was repealed by Pub. L. 94–412, title V, § 501(e), Sept. 14, 1976, 90 Stat. 1258. The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians Act, referred to in par. (6), is Pub. L. 96–317,
July 31, 1980, 94 Stat. 964, which was classified as a note under section 1981 of the former Appendix to this title and was omitted from the Code due to termination of the Commission not later than 90 days after
June 30, 1983. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 1989b–7 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

1992—Par. (2). Pub. L. 102–371 inserted “, or the spouse or a parent of an individual of Japanese ancestry,” after “Japanese ancestry” in introductory provisions.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 4218

Title 50War and National Defense

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60