Naturalization

Unlike other immigrants to the United States, Japanese and other Asians were not permitted to become naturalized American citizens until 1952. Under existing laws, naturalization was limited to "free white persons and to aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent." Despite many attempts by Japanese immigrants (Issei) to gain citizenship, they were usually rejected on the grounds that the Issei were neither white nor black. The 1922 Supreme Court case Ozawa v. U.S. cemented the status of the issei as "aliens ineligible to citizenship" once and for all. It wasn't until 1952 with the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act that Issei were finally allowed to become naturalized U.S. citizens.

Immigration and citizenship (429)
Naturalization (180)

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180 items

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 12 (February 9, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-179)

"Senate Unit Backs Bill on Equality" (p. 1), "Pvt. Ninomiya Rites Saturday" (p. 1), "Additional Claims Queries, Replies" (p. 2).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-179/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 31 (April 16, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-198)

"Hopes Rise on Senate Approval of Judd's ENI Legislation" (p. 1), "Local ADC Fund Push of $5,000 Starts April 20" (p. 1),

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-198/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 47 (June 11, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-214)

"House Unanimously Passes Resolution to Give "All' Right to U.S. Citizenship" (p. 1), "JACL ADC Seeks "Same Consideration' as Japanese for Okinawa People" (p. 1), "Solons Act on Two Appropriations Providing for Claims Processing" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-214/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 4 No. 71 (September 6, 1950) (ddr-densho-229-240)

"Korean Situation Hampers ADC Efforts to Win Boost in Claims Plan Budget" (p. 1), "Walter Bill OK by Truman Expected Soon" (p. 1), "ADC Releases Full Text of GI Bride Bill" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-240/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 47 (July 8, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-35)

"Fights Use of Japanese in Job Classification" (p. 1), "ADC Receives New Version of H.R. 3999" (p. 1), "NVC Supports Measure on Citizenship" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-35/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 4 No. 100 (December 16, 1950) (ddr-densho-229-258)

"Lucas Urged to Speed OK of Measure" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-258/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 100 (December 4, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-161)

"OK of Measure for Equality Seen Likely" (p. 1), "Joint Rites Set for Six GI War Dead Saturday, Dec. 11 in Bukkyo-Kai; One of Nisei Heroes is Winner of DSC" (p. 1), "JACL Will Give Claims Forms" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-161/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 24 (March 13, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-94)

"Center Blaze Sufferers Get Loss Claims" (p. 1), "Nisei War Memorial Army Raises $1,623 Here" (p. 1), "Union Membership Sought for Issei" (p. 2), "Fights Seizure of Alien's Land for War Claims" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-94/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 4 No. 68 (August 23, 1950) (ddr-densho-229-237)

"Walter Bill Runs into Confusion" (p. 1), "Travel Bureau Office in N.Y. Will Open Soon" (p. 1), "Sgt. I. Furukawa Killed in Action" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-237/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 13 (February 12, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-180)

"Judd Bill Passed by House Unit Without Dissenting Vote" (p. 1), "Senate OK's Bill to Pay for Our Loss" (p. 1), "Tokuda's Eye Third N.W. Title as Basketball Tourney Nears; Fierce Fight for Crown Looms" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-180/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 65 (August 13, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-232)

"Next "Open Night' on Wed., Aug. 17; Take Advantage of It, Okada Urges" (p. 1), "Illinois Senator Cites Record of Nisei GI's in Urging Passage of Judd Bill" (p. 2).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-232/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 2 No. 25 (March 17, 1948) (ddr-densho-229-95)

"Epinal War Heroes' Remains Removed" (p. 1), "Congress Gets Another Bill Aiding Issei" (p. 1), "Story of the 442nd" (p. 2), "Frisco Saints, Berkeley Nisseis to Tangle for "Oriental Title" (p. 3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-95/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 48 (June 15, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-215)

"Economy-Minded Solons Pass Over Funds Set Aside for Claims" (p. 1), "House OK's ENI Legislation; Senate Unit Will Study It" (p. 1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-215/

doc Naturalization certificate (ddr-densho-23-15)

Certificate of naturalization for Bunshiro Tazuma, aged seventy. The landmark case Ozawa v. United States (United States Supreme Court, 1922) barred the Issei from becoming American citizens even though many had been permanent residents since the late 1800s. In 1952, the Immigration and Nationality Act was passed, and the Issei were finally allowed to become citizens.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-23-15/

doc Naturalization certificate (ddr-densho-23-16)

Sawano Tazuma and her husband Bunshiro operated the Tazuma Ten-Cent Store at 12th Avenue and Jackson Street in Seattle's Nihonmachi. The Tazumas were not allowed to become naturalized American citizens until 1952, when the Immigration and Nationality Act was passed. Sawano finally became a citizen in 1954 at the age of fifty-eight, thirty-five years after settling …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-23-16/

doc Naturalization of Japanese Held Up (September 30, 1920) (ddr-densho-56-353)

The Seattle Daily Times, September 30, 1920, p. 10

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-353/

doc Nisei Seek Support for Bill Giving Aliens Citizenship (March 29, 1949) (ddr-densho-56-1194)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 29, 1949, p. 19

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-1194/

doc To Press Japanese Claims to Citizenship (May 16, 1918) (ddr-densho-56-306)

The Seattle Daily Times, May 16, 1918, p. 7

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-306/

Labor Unions Oppose Jap Naturalization. Bellingham Council Deplores 'Foreshadowed Destruction of the High Value of Suffrage' Now Enjoyed. (December 14, 1906) (ddr-densho-56-67)

doc Labor Unions Oppose Jap Naturalization. Bellingham Council Deplores 'Foreshadowed Destruction of the High Value of Suffrage' Now Enjoyed. (December 14, 1906) (ddr-densho-56-67)

The Seattle Daily Times, December 14, 1906, p. 21

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-67/

Courts Rule That Japs May Not Be Naturalized. Government Accepts This as Final, but Supreme Court Has Not Passed Upon Question. (January 11, 1907) (ddr-densho-56-73)

doc Courts Rule That Japs May Not Be Naturalized. Government Accepts This as Final, but Supreme Court Has Not Passed Upon Question. (January 11, 1907) (ddr-densho-56-73)

The Seattle Daily Times, January 11, 1907, p. 11

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-73/

Japanese Can't Be Naturalized, Says High Court. Highest Tribunal of Land Rules Against Eligibility of State of Washington and Hawaiian Residents. (November 13, 1922) (ddr-densho-56-372)

doc Japanese Can't Be Naturalized, Says High Court. Highest Tribunal of Land Rules Against Eligibility of State of Washington and Hawaiian Residents. (November 13, 1922) (ddr-densho-56-372)

The Seattle Daily Times, November 13, 1922, pp. 1, 5

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-372/

doc Cannot Practice. The Supreme Court Bars Young Japanese Lawyer Who Applied for Admittance. (October 22, 1902) (ddr-densho-56-31)

The Seattle Daily Times, October 22, 1902, p. 2

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-31/

doc Japanese Made Citizen. Honolulu Judge Admits Man Who Served in U.S. Army. (January 20, 1919) (ddr-densho-56-316)

The Seattle Daily Times, January 20, 1919, p. 9

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-316/

Japanese Denied Citizenship. Virginia Judge Bars Naval Steward, Holding No Alien Eligible Except of White or African Descent. Right Claimed Under Act Enfranchising Foreigners Who Have Served Honorably in Navy or Marine Corps. (May 4, 1909) (ddr-densho-56-150)

doc Japanese Denied Citizenship. Virginia Judge Bars Naval Steward, Holding No Alien Eligible Except of White or African Descent. Right Claimed Under Act Enfranchising Foreigners Who Have Served Honorably in Navy or Marine Corps. (May 4, 1909) (ddr-densho-56-150)

The Seattle Daily Times, May 4, 1909, p. 4

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-150/

doc Are Japanese Caucasians? (August 6, 1921) (ddr-densho-56-365)

The Seattle Daily Times, August 6, 1921, p. 6

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-365/