Judiciary Subcommitte Passes Wexler Legislation on Injustices Suffered by Italian and German Americans During World War II
Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law Reports Bill Favorably

(Washington, DC) Today, the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law in the House Judiciary Committee reported favorably the Wartime Treatment Study Act of 2009, legislation introduced by Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL). This legislation will establish two commissions: one to study and report on the treatment of European Americans and European Latin Americans by our government during World War II and another on the treatment of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. 

“I am pleased that this legislation took an important step forward with the support of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law,” said Congressman Robert Wexler.  “In 1980, Congress requested a thorough investigation to understand and acknowledge the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II.  Because of our commitment to learn from our past, our nation is now better able to protect all Americans.  While many Americans are aware of the internment of more than 110,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, much less is known about the U.S. government’s detention of more than 600,000 Italian-born and 300,000 German-born United States resident aliens and their families as ‘enemy aliens.’ Pursuant to a policy coordinated with Latin American countries; the U.S. government also unfairly displaced many Latin Americans of European descent. In some cases, German and Austrian Jews were deported to hostile Axis nations. Meanwhile, at our borders, Jewish refugees who were fleeing for their lives were denied entry into the United States.

“It is critical that Congress moves forward with this important legislation and conducts a full fact-finding inquiry of the treatment of all U.S. residents and other civilians and Jewish refugees to complete the task undertaken by Congress in 1980.  As our nation reexamines its treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, it is especially timely to look at how individual freedoms have been historically curtailed in the past during wartime.”

Congressman Robert Wexler is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. Recently, Congressman Wexler served as an advisor on Middle East issues to President Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign.

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