Department of Justice camps

More than 5,500 Japanese immigrants (Issei) were arrested by the FBI following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Most were sent first to temporary Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) detention stations and then transferred to Department of Justice (DOJ) internment camps, where they waited to appear before the Alien Enemy Hearing Board. These hearings determined whether the Issei would remain in the internment camps or be "released" to the War Relocation Authority (WRA) concentration camps. After the hearings, most of the Issei were sent to U.S. Army internment camps. The U.S. Army, charged with detaining military prisoners of war (POWs), then returned the Issei internees to DOJ control. The DOJ camps also interned Italian and German nationals and Japanese Latin Americans. Most of the DOJ internment camps held only men who had been separated from their families, but three camps housed single women and families. The camps were run by the INS, part of the Department of Justice.

World War II (231)
Department of Justice camps (409)

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409 items

doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 26 (June 29, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-74)

Selected article titles: "Units of Two Centers to Close by Oct." (p. 1), "400 Arrive at Santa Fe Camp" (p. 1), "13,652 Relocate in Dec. 31-June 16 Period" (p. 2), and "Boxing Show Features Double Main Event" (p. 6).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-74/

doc Letter from Chimata Sumida to Grace Sumida Nagai (ddr-densho-379-22)

Letter asks for help purchasing watches and used golf clubs for other internees. Chimata Sumida states that since some of the internees have returned to Los Angeles and filled the family in on news at Ft. Missoula, he no longer needs to let them know the daily news.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-22/

doc Letter from Chimata Sumida to his family (ddr-densho-379-1)

First letter from Chimata Sumida to his wife, Masako Sumida, after arriving at Ft. Missoula Internment Camp from Tuna Canyon.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-1/

doc Letter from Chimata Sumida to Theodore and Marshall Sumida (ddr-densho-379-36)

Letter gives fatherly advice regarding future education, and stresses importance of reading all kinds of books. Chimata Sumida writes that he spoke to members of the "Hearing Board from southern California" about "plan and methods of future education" for assembly camp internees.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-36/

doc Letter from Chimata Sumida to his family (ddr-densho-379-3)

Second letter from Chimata Sumida describing life in the internment camp. He mentions status of their family friends in the camp. He also mentions the Alien hearings and that no prisoner had his case resolved to date.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-3/

doc Letter from Chimata Sumida to Sumida Family (ddr-densho-379-8)

Letter describes camp life. He mentions that the camp regulations limit sending 3 letters a week, not more than 24 lines a letter. He also requested sporting good items be sent to him because the internees need more exercise.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-8/

doc Chimata Sumida Department of Justice Case File (ddr-densho-379-750)

Chimata Sumida's Department of Justice File includes the warrant for his arrest on January 19, 1942; a FBI investigation report that focused on Sumida's store and the inclusion of a stock of radios with short-wave capabilities; Sumida's Alien Enemy Questionnaire; and a transcript of his hearing for parole from Fort Missoula. Chimata Sumida's hearing for parole …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-750/

doc Letter from Chimata Sumida to Sumida Family (ddr-densho-379-5)

Letter describes life in the Ft. Missoula internment camp. He states that the overall age of men in camp is over 55. The Japanese Camp's average age is 38.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-5/

doc Letter from Chimata Sumida to Grace Sumida and Family (ddr-densho-379-12)

Letter requests the family sends all of his personal belongings since he might not be able to see them during the "duration of this emergency period of time which might last years." He requested tennis equipment be sent because they would soon have a tennis court at Ft. Missoula.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-12/

vh An Oral History with Mitsuhiko H. Shimizu (ddr-csujad-29-57)

Issei community leader and businessman in Los Angeles's Little Tokyo recounts his arrest by Federal Bureau of Investigation after Pearl Harbor, his experiences in internment camps in North Dakota and Louisiana, and the Manzanar incarceration camp, California. This oral history was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project, Oral History Program, CSU Fullerton. Transcript is …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-57/

vh An Oral History with Reverend Seytsu Takahashi (ddr-csujad-29-58)

Issei Buddhist bishop and superintendent of Kayasan Temple in Little Tokyo since 1931 recounts his wartime experiences and internment at Fort Missoula, Montana; Livingstone, Louisiana; and Crystal City, Texas. Transcribed in both Japanese and English. This oral history was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project, Oral History Program, CSU Fullerton. Transcript is found in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-58/

av An oral history with Ronald Tanimoto (ddr-csujad-29-44)

An oral interview with Ronald Tanimoto, internee at the Crystal City Department of Justice internment camp. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0144. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 2473_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-44/

doc Letter from Tatsuya Ichikawa to Loyd H. Jenson (ddr-densho-258-204)

Tatsuya Ichikawa writes to Loyd H. Jensen the Officer in Charge of the Sante Fe Department of Justice Internment Camp. Ichikawa requests to be given temporary parole so he could travel to Minidoka concentration camp to help his family. His two youngest children were hospitalized. A post-it note written by Satoru Ichikawa attached to the letter …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-258-204/

doc Telegram from Shigeo Fukuhara to Tatuya Ichikawa (ddr-densho-258-205)

A telegram sent to Tatsuya Ichikawa at Santa Fe Department of Justice Internment Camp from Shigeo Fukuhara at Minidoka Concentration Camp informing Tatsuya that his two youngest children have been hospitalized. Fukuhara informs Ichikawa that telegrams from the Minidoka Health Nurse and Social Service Counselor have been sent to help Ichikawa get temporary parole so he …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-258-205/

doc In My Parents' Words (ddr-densho-258-208)

A booklet to accompany a panel entitled In My Parents' Words: Voices from the Department of Justice Camps at the 2013 Japanese American National Museum National Conference held at the Sheraton Hotel in Seattle, Washington. Satoru Ichikawa focuses on the separation of his father, a Buddhist priest, from his family for two years during the family's …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-258-208/

img Buddhist ministers at Sante Fe internment camp (ddr-densho-310-1)

A group photograph of the Buddhist ministers interned at Sante Fe internment camp. Etsuko Osaki's father, Tatsuya Ichikawa, is in the second row, third from the left. Ichikawa was picked up by the FBI in April 1942. He remained separated from his family for two years before they reunited in Crystal City internment camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-310-1/

doc National Archives letter (ddr-densho-314-9)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-314-9/

doc Information concerning Hawaiian internees (ddr-densho-314-12)

This document lists the family members of Kazuichi Takanishi. It shows that two of his sons were serving in the US Army. Partly due to his sons' service, Takanishi was paroled first to Chicago, Illinois on the mainland and then later back to Hawaii.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-314-12/