The Civil Liberties Act of 1988, signed into law by President Ronald W. Reagan, authorized reparation payments to all Japanese Americans and Alaskan Aleuts who were interned, relocated, or evacuated from their homes during World War II. Representative Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.) introduced the measure to the House with 125 cosponsors on January 6, 1987. The bill officially recognized that the United States committed a “grave injustice” when it uprooted more than 120,000 citizens and permanent residents of Japanese ancestry, and Alaskan Aleuts living on certain islands during World War II and relocated them in internment camps. It further recognized that they were not responsible for any acts of espionage or sabotage, nor did they pose any security risk. The bill acknowledged that the actions were “motivated by racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.” It apologized on behalf of the nation for the wrongs committed and requested the president to offer full pardons for any Japanese Americans convicted of violating the laws or executive orders related to the internment process. It further authorized the U. S. Treasury to offer reparation payments of $20,000 to each Japanese American, and $12,000 for affected Aleuts who suffered as a result of these wartime measures.
In August 1987 the bill passed the House by a vote of 243-141. By April of the following year, the Senate approved the bill by a vote of 69-27. It was signed into law August 10, and the Office of Redress Administration (ORA) was formed to advertise for, identify, and find all those who might be eligible for reparation payments. The law provided a window of 10 years for all eligible individuals to submit their claims. Before officially closing on February 5, 1999, the office paid out 82,219 claims, leaving 79 claims pending. An additional 133 cases involving Japanese Americans who had been removed from Latin America could not be processed under existing laws. Ten days before the ORA closed, the federal government settled the claims of these Latin-American Japanese in Mochizuki v. United States, which allowed partial settlements of $5,000. On May 14, Congress authorized emergency funds with which to pay all outstanding claims.
See also Alaska Native Claim Settlement Act; Asian Americans; Native Americans; War Powers Act.
—Aharon W. Zorea
World History
