Speech #1090109944

I am proud that our Nation did the right thing. But 18 years after the passage of the Civil Liberties Act. there still remains unfinished work to completely rectify and close this regrettable chapter in our Nations history. Between December 1941 and February 1948. approximately 2.300 men. women and children of Japanese ancestry became the victims of mass abduction and forced deportation from 13 Latin American countries to the U.S. During World War II. the U.S. Government orchestrated and financed the deportation of Japanese Latin Americans to be used as hostages in exchange for Americans held by Japan. Over 800 individuals were included in two prisonerofwar exchanges between the U.S. and Japan. The remaining Japanese Latin Americans were imprisoned in internment camps without the benefit of due process rights until after the end of the war. f] 1700 Japanese Latin Americans were not only subjected to gross violations of civil rights in the U.S. by being forced into internment camps much like their Japanese American counterparts. but additionally. they were victims of human rights abuses merely because of their ethnic origin. Today. I want to announce that I soon will be introducing legislation that will create a commission to study the relocation. internment. and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans. It is the right thing to do to affirm our commitment to democracy and the rule of law by exploring this unclosed chapter in our history. Just 2 weeks ago.