The Forgotten Deportations of Japanese Americans | Chicago News

After Pearl Harbor, Executive Order 9066 ripped apart lives, forcing 126,000 Japanese Americans into camps—two-thirds U.S. citizens—many to Tule Lake, a prison overflowing with despair. As the war wound down, a sinister plan emerged: deport those labeled “disloyal.” A 1944 law let citizens renounce citizenship, tricking thousands into surrendering their status under false promises of family unity. Suddenly, young men were stripped of rights and deported as enemy aliens. The Justice Department initially stood by, but civil rights lawyer Wayne M. Collins fought back, halting deportations and restoring citizenship for most. Yet shame lingered for decades—until 1990, when the government finally apologized and paid reparations. This haunting chapter still echoes today, asking: When will we stop repeating history’s darkest chapters? Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1be33c6a5482165c