War Restrictions on Enemy Aliens

There is a need for clarification. In the interest of historic accuracy I must address the assertion that no Germans or Italians were affected by the government’s relocation (“Japanese-Americans Mourn an Old Friend,” Jan. 8).

While it was determined after much debate that Executive Order 9066 would be restricted in its application to Japanese aliens and citizens, other enemy alien groups were also affected by World War II. On Dec. 7, 1941, the Enemy Alien Control Unit of the Justice Department, citing Section 21, Title 50 of the U.S. Code and Presidential Proclamation 2525, apprehended 1,000 enemy aliens, 48 in the Los Angeles area.

On Dec. 16, 1941, detainees at Terminal Island including 110 Germans, 364 Japanese and 25 Italians were transferred under FBI supervision to internment facilities at Ft. Missoula and Ft. Lincoln, Mont. By June, 1942, 8,500 enemy aliens had been incarcerated. An additional 2,364 citizens from Axis countries residing in Latin America were interned in INS camps in Texas.

It should be noted that at the same time similar sweeps were occurring in Canada.

Enemy aliens not in custodial detention were required to register and were subjected to numerous restrictions.

Beginning in January, 1942, local authorities and FBI agents using executive search warrants issued by the Justice Department searched enemy alien homes for contraband including photographic equipment and flashlights. In addition, on March 24, 1942, a curfew was imposed on all Southern California enemy aliens, confining them to their homes between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., and restricting non-work-related travel to a five-mile radius.

The wartime emergency also called for the evacuation of enemy aliens from strategic locations. On Feb. 1, 1942, the Los Angeles Times reported that Germans, Italians and Japanese would be removed from 69 zones including Downey, Vernon and parts of Santa Monica, adding that “the aged and the infirm will not be allowed to remain with naturalized sons and daughters in such areas.” Though placards bearing evacuation instructions in German, Japanese and Italian were posted, comprehensive relocation was carried out only at Terminal Island and along the Northern California coast.

The sheer numbers of potential internees and political expediency ultimately confined the thrust of Executive Order 9066 to Japanese aliens and citizens. But the burden of restrictions, regulation and, to some extent, detention was also borne by German and Italian aliens.

GLORIA RICCI LOTHROP

Professor of History

Cal Poly Pomona