I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1185 
To establish commissions to review the facts and circumstances surrounding 
injustices suffered by European Americans, European Latin Americans, 
and Jewish refugees during World War II. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2007 
Mr. WEXLER (for himself, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. HONDA, and Mr. BECERRA) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary 
A BILL 
To establish commissions to review the facts and cir-
cumstances surrounding injustices suffered by European 
Americans, European Latin Americans, and Jewish refu-
gees during World War II. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Wartime Treatment 
Study Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) During World War II, the United States 
Government deemed as ‘‘enemy aliens’’ more than 
600,000 Italian-born and 300,000 German-born 
United States resident aliens and their families and 
required them to carry Certificates of Identification 
and limited their travel and personal property rights. 
At that time, these groups were the 2 largest for-
eign-born groups in the United States. 
(2) During World War II, the United States 
Government arrested, interned, or otherwise de-
tained thousands of European Americans, some re-
maining in custody for years after cessation of 
World War II hostilities, and repatriated, exchanged, 
or deported European Americans, including Amer-
ican-born children, to European Axis nations, many 
to be exchanged for Americans held in those nations. 
(3) Pursuant to a policy coordinated by the 
United States with Latin American nations, many 
European Latin Americans, including German and 
Austrian Jews, were arrested, brought to the United 
States, and interned. Many were later expatriated, 
repatriated, or deported to European Axis nations 
during World War II, many to be exchanged for 
Americans and Latin Americans held in those na-
tions. 
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(4) Millions of European Americans served in 
the armed forces and thousands sacrificed their lives 
in defense of the United States. 
(5) The wartime policies of the United States 
Government were devastating to the Italian Amer-
ican and German American communities, individ-
uals, and their families. The detrimental effects are 
still being experienced. 
(6) Prior to and during World War II, the 
United States restricted the entry of Jewish refugees 
who were fleeing persecution and sought safety in 
the United States. During the 1930’s and 1940’s, 
the quota system, immigration regulations, visa re-
quirements, and the time required to process visa 
applications affected the number of Jewish refugees, 
particularly those from Germany and Austria, who 
could gain admittance to the United States. 
(7) The United States Government should con-
duct an independent review to fully assess and ac-
knowledge these actions. Congress has previously re-
viewed the United States Government’s wartime 
treatment of Japanese Americans through the Com-
mission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of 
Civilians. An independent review of the treatment of 
German Americans and Italian Americans and of 
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