The Japanese American Citizens League, the national organization representing persons of Japanese ancestry in the US, has blasted a statement by Carl Higbie, the co-chair and spokesperson for the Great America Political Action Committee for Donald Trump, in which the adviser to the President-elect discussed the possibility of creating a registry for immigrants from Muslim countries on a Fox News segment.
Higbie, a former Navy SEAL, argued that such registration would survive a constitutional test and noted, “We’ve done it with Iran back a while ago. We did it during World War II with the Japanese.”
The JACL, a long-standing critic of the World War II internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans by the US government, said in a statement: “Higbie’s attempt to cite Japanese American incarceration as a precedent for this type of action is frightening and wrong. It’s a statement intended to lay a marker for a misguided belief that ignores the true lessons of Japanese American incarceration.
“This lesson was captured in the words of a federal commission that said, “… The broad historical causes which shaped these decisions (to incarcerate Japanese Americans) were race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.”
The organization added: “JACL believes that some of these same conditions exist today, where Muslim Americans are being singled out and unfairly targeted, and where the voices of leadership that should be speaking out against unfair treatment are not.
We must not misinterpret our history by believing the Japanese American incarceration was justified as a precedent for similar actions today, and further, we must not use the wrongdoing perpetrated against Japanese Americans during World War II as a justification for the mistreatment of Muslim Americans.”
US President Ronald Reagan issued a formal apology to the Japanese American survivors of the wartime relocation camps in 1988 under the Civil Liberties Act. The government also paid out US$20,000 in compensation to each surviving victim.
The wartime administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt “relocated” between 110,000 to 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast in 1942 to 10 internment camps located in desert sites or disused land in California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and Arkansas. Some 62% of the internees were US citizens.
They were not allowed to leave the camps until 1944 when some were permitted to resettle on the East Coast. Those who wished to return to their original homes on the West Coast could not do so until 1945 – until Japan surrendered to the allies.
The JACL is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the US.
There is already a registry of Muslims, this from WaPo
The Nazis got their idea from the Pope actually,the americans,germans & British became the best disciple of the pope.Being spectacular liars they fooled the Jews,Red Indians & Aboriginees & successfully stole their land….they justified their robbery by saying it is survival of the beast.The pope used to be one of the most creative guy in the business of segregation…he had ghettos,then he will give a yellow band & he imposed special taxes becuase you are Jew….after they did all this the xtian will shout his national anthem " all praise to the lord,long live the King".
Don’t be so fast…in Japan now; To enter their country they take your Finger prints and then a Photo Before letting you in.
20,000 dollars per person, who were the victim of the American concentration camp? I think they feel lucky to be alive, not like many Jews who were gassed like Nazis.
No comparison. Criticism without alternative schemes is no good.
I thought I did finger printing when I entered the USA.
I understand though Japan is not very easy country to enter when you are foreigner.
Not criticizing. May be the US government did not trust the royalty of Japanese American people. I read a book years ago, newly neutralized German American was sent to Europe and had to fight against their former countryman. That must have been hard too. But the US government put trust Germsn and Italian. There were no "German" concentration camp nor Italian.
Anyway that is the history and hopefully, they do not repeat.
If you are non-US citizen they definitely take fingerprints and a photo at any major port of entry in the USA each time you enter just as they do in Japan. In my dozen or so times visiting Japan I have never been asked any questions by immigration control, wheras entering the USA (and Canada) they are usually quite thourough with their questions even if you are just transiting to some other country via the USA.
What are the requirements to be in the JACL? I’m half Japanese and half caucasion. Born and raised in Japan for 16 years. Speak the language as most of your membership that I have come across don’t and have spent very little of their time in Japan. Came here to the us in 1989 when I turned 20. I’ve been told that the JACL will only accept you if you are full japanese american, meaning both parents are of japanese origin. Racial identity here in the US is a major concern. Not white and apparently not Japanese enough to be in the JACL. I understand your concerns, but your not preaching from a strong position if your own rules of membership has its own level of racial prejudice. Good luck with your efforts. I agree with your concerns, but it doesn’t mean much to me coming from your organization.
Jose Diaz Jr. Sorry but so what ? What’s the matter ? "Don’t be so fast" that’s what people want to tell you 😉
I CAME IN FOR PICTURES OF THE FISH MARKET!!! WHERE IS IT!?
To enter U.K. If you are not EU citizen – and more if you aren’t so clear coloured skin, you are asked 100 questions althoug you don’t have any intention to immigrate.