The Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2005

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Sponsor:
Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA)

Overview: The Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2005, will provide equitable redress to Japanese Latin Americans (JLA) forcibly removed, at the urging of our government, from various Latin American countries and interned in the United States during World War II. In addition, the legislation will seek to provide redress to Japanese Americans who suffered grievances resulting from government actions during the evacuation, relocation, and internment period, who did not garner rectification from the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 on various technical grounds. Finally, the bill will authorize $45 million to create an education fund to ensure that this chapter in our nation’s history is appropriately remembered.

Summary of Provisions:
1. Provides redress in the amount of $20,000 to JLAs forcibly removed from certain Latin American countries and interned in the United States during WWII.

2. Provides an official U.S. apology to JLAs that admits culpability, the facts surrounding the removal of these individuals from their residences, and their internment in the United States..

3. Provides expanded notification to individuals eligible for redress and extends the right of claimants who are denied to appeal the decision..

4. Expunges the designation of “illegal alien” from the record of JLA individuals while they were interned in the United States. Does not confer citizenship or residency status..

5. Directs the U.S. government to disclose all information relevant to the forcible removal of individuals who were displaced from their homes and brought to the U.S. This includes disclosure of the fate of individuals who are still unaccounted for. In addition, the U.S. government would be directed to work with other nations involved in these abductions in order to share information..

6. Directs all involved agencies to release the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and all other relevant information for all persons who have claimed or will claim redress to the attorneys representing the claimant..

7. Allows an additional 6 years for interned or relocated Japanese Americans who failed to meet the application deadline of the original Civil Liberties Act to apply for redress..

8. Makes eligible for redress at $20,000 those Japanese American citizens born in an internment camp between June 30, 1946 and March 1, 1948..

9. Makes eligible for redress at $20,000 those U.S. citizens born outside of an internment camp between January 20, 1945 and March 1, 1948, who faced government barriers for return into exclusion areas..

10. Makes eligible for redress at $20,000 Japanese American workers, and their dependent children, employed by private railroad and mining companies, who were terminated because of government action..

11. Makes eligible for redress at $20,000 persons of Japanese ancestry detained in the United States who would have been eligible for citizenship or permanent resident status had discriminatory immigration laws not been in effect..

12. Provides that other claimants may be made eligible for redress depending on the outcome of cases in litigation..

13. Reauthorize $45 million to create an education fund to fulfill the mandate of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. This amount would be invested in government obligations and earn interest at an annual rate of at least 5% to ensure that the education program continues in perpetuity..

14. Authorizes appropriations in the amount necessary to meet the obligations under this Act.