Speech #1100008389

I am proud that our nation did the right thing. But 19 years after the passage of this act. there still remains unfinished work to completely rectify and close this regrettable chapter in our nations history. Between December 1941 and February 1945. approximately 2.300 men. women. and children of Japanese ancestry became the victims of mass abduction and forcible deportation from 13 Latin American countries to the United States. The U.S. govemment 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 prisoner of war exchanges between the U.S. and Japan. where many were deported to a foreign country that they had never set foot on since their ancestors immigration to Latin America. The remaining Japanese Latin Americans were imprisoned in internment camps without the benefit of due process rights until after the end of the war. Further study of the events surrounding the deportation and incarceration of Japanese Latin Americans is both merited and necessary. The 1981 Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians acknowledged the federal actions in detaining and interning civilians of enemy or foreign nationality. particularly of Japanese ancestry. but the commission had not thoroughly researched the historical documents that exist in distant archives pertaining to Japanese Latin Americans. It is for all these reasons. Madam Speaker. that I rise today to introduce the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act. We must review directives of the United States military forces and the State Department requiring the relocation. detention in internment camps. and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans to Axis countries and recommend appropriate remedies based upon preliminary findings by the original commission and new discoveries. It is the right thing to do to affirm our commitment to democracy and the rule of law. I am proud that there are many Members of Congress and community activists who have come together in this continuous tight for justice.