Sign posted
by the American Government in front of an Internment Camp
(www.oz.net/~cyu/internment/camps.html)
How Peruvian Japanese Internment was Legally Possible
An alien in a country does not have many legal rights. Based on International Law, an alien may be subject to expulsion on the vague grounds of "public order or security". Peruvian law eliminates the rights of an alien to almost none. Article 70 in the Peruvian Constitution states about aliens:
"the executive can suspend totally or partially, in the name of security... Peruvian homes could be invaded and individuals detained without written authorizations, and finally, they could be removed from the country without legal recourse."
Based on Peruvian law, deportation of the Peruvian Japanese was legally acceptable.
America justified the decision of interning another countries' people by the Alien Enemy Act of 1798. The act allowed for the apprehension and internment of nationals of states at war with the U.S.
Based on these obscure laws, the Peruvian Japanese internment was able to happen legally and without the public objecting. At the time of the war, much of the American public was unaware of the Latin American internment. America and Peru was able to keep the internment fairly secretive because of the clauses in American and Peruvian law.
This exhibit was researched and designed by Alexis Frances Murono.
Background: (www.infoplease.com/spot/internment1.html)
This exhibit and museum were created during an introductory seminar on the Asia-Pacific War, taught at Wake Forest University during the spring semester 2002.
The material and opinions are those of their respective authors and do not represent the views of the University or the Department of History.