Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 3.djvu/925

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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 Liberi;ies 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 i^ericans 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 Nov. 7, 2000 [H.R. 2442] Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties Act. 50 USC app. 1981 note. Deadline. 50 USC app. 1981 note.