PUBLIC LAW 106–451—NOV. 7, 2000 114 STAT. 1947

Public Law 106–451

106th Congress

An Act

To provide for the preparation of a Government report detailing injustices suffered

by Italian Americans during World War II, and a formal acknowledgment of

such injustices by the President.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Wartime Violation of Italian

American Civil Liberties Act’’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The freedom of more than 600,000 Italian-born

immigrants in the United States and their families was

restricted during World War II by Government measures that

branded them ‘‘enemy aliens’’ and included carrying identification cards, travel restrictions, and seizure of personal property.

(2) During World War II more than 10,000 Italian Americans living on the West Coast were forced to leave their homes

and prohibited from entering coastal zones. More than 50,000

were subjected to curfews.

(3) During World War II thousands of Italian American

immigrants were arrested, and hundreds were interned in military camps.

(4) Hundreds of thousands of Italian Americans performed

exemplary service and thousands sacrificed their lives in

defense of the United States.

(5) At the time, Italians were the largest foreign-born group

in the United States, and today are the fifth largest immigrant

group in the United States, numbering approximately 15 million.

(6) The impact of the wartime experience was devastating

to Italian American communities in the United States, and

its effects are still being felt.

(7) A deliberate policy kept these measures from the public

during the war. Even 50 years later much information is still

classified, the full story remains unknown to the public, and

it has never been acknowledged in any official capacity by

the United States Government.

SEC. 3. REPORT.

The Attorney General shall conduct a comprehensive review

of the treatment by the United States Government of Italian Americans during World War II, and not later than 1 year after the

Deadline.

50 USC app.

1981 note.

50 USC app.

1981 note.

Wartime

Violation of

Italian American

Civil Liberties

Act.

Nov. 7, 2000

[H.R. 2442]

114 STAT. 1948 PUBLIC LAW 106–451—NOV. 7, 2000

date of the enactment of this Act shall submit to the Congress

a report that documents the findings of such review. The report

shall cover the period between September 1, 1939, and December

31, 1945, and shall include the following:

(1) The names of all Italian Americans who were taken

into custody in the initial roundup following the attack on

Pearl Harbor, and prior to the United States declaration of

war against Italy.

(2) The names of all Italian Americans who were taken

into custody.

(3) The names of all Italian Americans who were interned

and the location where they were interned.

(4) The names of all Italian Americans who were ordered

to move out of designated areas under the United States Army’s

‘‘Individual Exclusion Program’’.

(5) The names of all Italian Americans who were arrested

for curfew, contraband, or other violations under the authority

of Executive Order No. 9066.

(6) Documentation of Federal Bureau of Investigation raids

on the homes of Italian Americans.

(7) A list of ports from which Italian American fishermen

were restricted.

(8) The names of Italian American fishermen who were

prevented from fishing in prohibited zones and therefore unable

to pursue their livelihoods.

(9) The names of Italian Americans whose boats were confiscated.

(10) The names of Italian American railroad workers who

were prevented from working in prohibited zones.

(11) A list of all civil liberties infringements suffered by

Italian Americans during World War II, as a result of Executive

Order No. 9066, including internment, hearings without benefit

of counsel, illegal searches and seizures, travel restrictions,

enemy alien registration requirements, employment restrictions, confiscation of property, and forced evacuation from

homes.

(12) An explanation of whether Italian Americans were

subjected to civil liberties infringements, as a result of Executive Order No. 9066, and if so, why other Italian Americans

were not.

(13) A review of the wartime restrictions on Italian Americans to determine how civil liberties can be better protected

during national emergencies.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

It is the sense of the Congress that—

(1) the story of the treatment of Italian Americans during

World War II needs to be told in order to acknowledge that

these events happened, to remember those whose lives were

unjustly disrupted and whose freedoms were violated, to help

repair the damage to the Italian American community, and

to discourage the occurrence of similar injustices and violations

of civil liberties in the future;

(2) Federal agencies, including the Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities, should

support projects such as—

Records.

PUBLIC LAW 106–451—NOV. 7, 2000 114 STAT. 1949

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2442:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:

Vol. 145 (1999): Nov. 10, considered and passed House.

Vol. 146 (2000): Oct. 19, considered and passed Senate, amended.

Oct. 24, House concurred in Senate amendments.

Æ

(A) conferences, seminars, and lectures to heighten

awareness of this unfortunate chapter in our Nation’s history;

(B) the refurbishment of and payment of all expenses

associated with the traveling exhibit ‘‘Una Storia Segreta’’,

exhibited at major cultural and educational institutions

throughout the United States; and

(C) documentaries to allow this issue to be presented

to the American public to raise its awareness;

(3) an independent, volunteer advisory committee should

be established comprised of representatives of Italian American

organizations, historians, and other interested individuals to

assist in the compilation, research, and dissemination of

information concerning the treatment of Italian Americans;

(4) after completion of the report required by this Act,

financial support should be provided for the education of the

American public through the production of a documentary film

suited for public broadcast; and

(5) the President should, on behalf of the United States

Government, formally acknowledge that these events during

World War II represented a fundamental injustice against

Italian Americans.

Approved November 7, 2000.