Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties Act
PL 106-451 (H.R.2442), enacted 11/07/2000

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 Grovemment 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 Liberi;ies Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The freedom of more than 600,000 
Italian-bom 
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 identifica-
tion cards, travel restrictions, and seizure of personal property. 
(2) During World War II more than 10,000 Italian i ^ e r i -
cans 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 mili-
tary 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-bom group 
in the United States, and today are the fifth largest immigrant 
group in the United States, numbering approximately 15 mil-
lion. 
(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 Ameri-
cans during World War II, and not later than 1 year after the 
Nov. 7, 2000 
[H.R. 2442] 
Wartime 
Violation of 
Italian American 
Civil Liberties 
Act. 
50 u s e app. 
1981 note. 
Deadline. 
50 u s e app. 
1981 note. 
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 con-
fiscated. 
(10) The names of Italian American railroad workers who 
were prevented from working in prohibited zones. 
Records. 
(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 restric-
tions, 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 Execu-
tive Order No. 9066, and if so, why other Italian Americans 
were not. 
(13) A review of the wartime restrictions on Italian Ameri-
cans 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 Edu-
cation and the National Endowment for the Humanities, shoxild 
support projects such as— 
PUBLIC LAW 106-451—NOV. 7, 2000 
114 STAT. 1949 
(A) conferences, seminars, and lectures to heighten 
awareness of this unfortunate chapter in our Nation's his-
tory; 
(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. 
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.