Opinion ID: 212051
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Relevant Statutes, Regulations, and Legislative History

Text: 16 In 1980, Congress passed legislation establishing the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians to document the impact of the internment on Japanese American citizens and permanent residents. See generally Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians Act, Pub.L. No. 96-317, 94 Stat. 964 (1980). The resulting Civil Liberties Act of 1988 enacted the recommendations of the Commission, including a formal statement of apology and a one-time redress payment to each eligible individual. See 50 U.S.C. app. § 1989a(a) (2000) (apology); id. § 1989b-4(a)(1) (redress payment); Ishida, 59 F.3d at 1227. The Act then defined eligible individuals: 17 For the purposes of this title.... 18 (2) the term eligible individual means any individual of Japanese ancestry ... who, during the evacuation, relocation, and internment period — 19 (A) was a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien; and 20 (B)(i) was confined, held in custody, relocated, or otherwise deprived of liberty or property as a result of — 21 (I) Executive Order Numbered 9066, dated February 19, 1942; 22 (II) the Act entitled An Act to provide a penalty for violation of restrictions or orders with respect to persons entering, remaining in, leaving, or committing any act in military areas or zones, approved March 21, 1942 (56 Stat. 173); or 23 (III) any other Executive order, Presidential proclamation, law of the United States, directive of the Armed Forces of the United States, or other action taken by or on behalf of the United States or its agents, representatives, officers, or employees, respecting the evacuation, relocation, or internment of individuals solely on the basis of Japanese ancestry.... 24 50 U.S.C. app. § 1989b-7 (2000) (emphases added). 25 The Justice Department promulgated regulations to implement the Act. See 28 C.F.R. pt. 74 (2004); see also Redress Provisions for Persons of Japanese Ancestry, 54 Fed.Reg. 34,157 (Aug. 18, 1989) ( Redress Provisions ). Initially, the Justice Department's regulations stated that children born after their parents had voluntarily relocated from prohibited military zones, assembly centers, relocation camps, and internment camps were not eligible for redress under the Act. Redress Provisions, 54 Fed.Reg. at 34,160; see also Redress Provisions for Persons of Japanese Ancestry: Guidelines Under Ishida v. United States, 62 Fed.Reg. 19,928, 19,929 (Apr. 24, 1997) ( Guidelines Under Ishida ). However, after this court's decision in Ishida v. United States, 59 F.3d 1224 (Fed.Cir.1995), held such individuals to be eligible under the Act, the Justice Department revised its regulations and issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Redress Provisions for Persons of Japanese Ancestry, 61 Fed.Reg. 17,667 (Apr. 22, 1996); see also Guidelines Under Ishida, 62 Fed.Reg. at 19,930. The Justice Department considered, inter alia, comments regarding an extension of the proposed January 3, 1945 threshold date for eligibility. Guidelines Under Ishida, 62 Fed.Reg. at 19,931-32. Some comments advocated the date should be extended by up to three months to accommodate a family's inability to travel due to the advanced state of a woman's pregnancy and other hardships. Id. at 19,932. The Justice Department rejected such arguments, stating: 26 Although the Department is sympathetic to persons who were in this situation, it must be recognized that after January 20, 1945, the law ceased to act to deprive affected individuals of their liberty to travel and reside as they saw fit. Without a doubt, there were a number of families who, for various reasons, were unable to return for some time to the former exclusion zones. However, the fact remains that after January 20, 1945, individuals were generally free under the law to decide for themselves whether and when they should return to the West Coast. This is the basis for eligibility under Ishida, and the Department is bound by the court's strictures. 27 Id. The Justice Department then amended its regulations to add 28 C.F.R. § 74.3(b)(9), explicitly stating that individuals born on or before January 20, 1945 to parents who had been evacuated, relocated, or interned from their original place of residence were eligible for relief under the Act. Id. at 19,934. Thus, the pertinent Justice Department regulations currently provide in relevant part: 28 (a) An individual is found to be eligible if such an individual: 29 (1) Is of Japanese ancestry; and 30 (2) Was living on the date of enactment of the Act, August 10, 1988; and 31 (3) During the evacuation, relocation, and internment period was — 32 (i) A United States citizen; or 33 (ii) A permanent resident alien who was lawfully admitted into the United States; or 34 (iii) An alien ...; and 35 (4) Was confined, held in custody, relocated, or otherwise deprived of liberty or property as a result of — 36 (i) Executive Order 9066, dated February 19, 1942; 37 (ii) The Act entitled An Act to provide a penalty for violation of restrictions or orders with respect to persons entering, remaining, leaving, or committing any act in military areas or zones, approved March 21, 1942; or 38 (iii) Any other Executive order, Presidential proclamation, law of the United States ... respecting the evacuation, relocation, or internment of individuals solely on the basis of Japanese ancestry. 39 (b) The following individuals are deemed to have suffered a loss within the meaning of paragraph (a)(4) of this section: 40 (1) Individuals who were interned under the supervision of the wartime Relocation Authority, the Department of Justice or the United States Army; or 41