Renunciation of citizenship

During World War II, 5,589 American citizens of Japanese descent renounced their U.S. citizenship. The renunciations took place between December 1944 and July 1945, mostly in Tule Lake concentration camp, California. The vast majority of renunciations had little to do with "disloyalty" to the U.S., but instead were the result of a series of complex conditions and events that were beyond the control of those involved. After a legal battle, most renunciants had their U.S. citizenship restored in the 1960s.

World War II (66)
Resistance and dissidence (73)
Renunciation of citizenship (117)

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117 items

doc Supplemental affidavit to be submitted with applications of Japanese "renunciants" (ddr-csujad-24-86)

An affidavit prepared by Jitsushige Tsuha (Reverend Kenjitsu Jitsushige Tsuha) for the Immigration and Naturalization Service requesting that his citizenship and accompanying civil rights be restored. In these documents Tsuha argues that he was forced at gunpoint to sign forms renouncing his citizenship at the Tule Lake incarceration camp and did not realize what he was …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-24-86/

doc Letter from Kathleen M. O'Connor, archivist, National Archives-Pacific Sierra Region to Michi Weglyn, June 23, 1997 (ddr-csujad-24-77)

A letter from Kathleen M. O'Connor at the National Archives in response to Weglyn's request for records about Japanese American citizenship renunciation cases. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: chi_06_003

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-24-77/

doc Letter from Michi Weglyn to Frank Chin, September 26, 1991 (ddr-csujad-24-104)

A letter from Michi Weglyn to Frank Chin about a woman named Kiyoko Mozaki who was teaching a class on Japanese Americans at a university in Koyoto, Japan. Weglyn states that Mozaki's father was incarcerated in the Tule Lake incarceration camp and later received a redress check. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese …

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-24-104/

doc Scrapbook page with one article (ddr-densho-35-400)

Newspaper clipping from the Oregonian titled "They've Changed Their Minds."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-35-400/

doc Scrapbook page (ddr-densho-35-402)

Two photograhs and one article from the Oregonian. Photographs are titled "Japanese Youngsters Among Repatriates Sailing." Newspaper article is titled "Nisei Fight To Remain In America."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-35-402/

doc Japanese-Americans Ordered Set Free (September 8, 1947) (ddr-densho-56-1180)

The Seattle Daily Times, September 8, 1947, p. 2

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-1180/

doc Japanese Lose Citizenship Case (July 13, 1946) (ddr-densho-56-1160)

The Seattle Daily Times, July 13, 1946, p. 2

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-1160/

doc They're Disloyal And Should Be Treated As Such (February 16, 1946) (ddr-densho-56-1155)

The Seattle Daily Times, February 16, 1946, p. 6

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-1155/

doc Nisei May Sue For Citizenship (October 26, 1945) (ddr-densho-56-1149)

The Seattle Daily Times, October 26, 1945, p. 5

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-1149/

doc 8,000 Japs Sent Back to Nippon (February 7, 1946) (ddr-densho-56-1154)

The Seattle Daily Times, February 7, 1946, p. 5

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-1154/

doc Japs Ask to be Citizens Again (November 13, 1945) (ddr-densho-56-1151)

The Seattle Daily Times, November 13, 1945, p. 2

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-1151/

doc 2,300 Nisei Restored Renounced Citizenship. U.S. Court Denounces Internment. (April 29, 1948) (ddr-densho-56-1187)

The Seattle Daily Times, April 29, 1948, p. 1

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-1187/

doc Bill to Renounce U.S. Citizenship Passed by House (February 23, 1944) (ddr-densho-56-1029)

The Seattle Daily Times, February 23, 1944, p. 10

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-1029/

doc Two memos regarding Manzanar concentration camp, California (ddr-densho-67-14)

The subject of these memos is the identification of suspected pro-Japanese individuals.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-14/

doc Letter from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding renunciation status (ddr-densho-164-139)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-164-139/

doc Letter from Wayne Collins regarding renunciation status (ddr-densho-164-137)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-164-137/

doc Text of judgment cancelling renunciation (ddr-densho-188-56)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-188-56/

doc Handwritten letter requesting cancellation of renunciation application (ddr-densho-188-45)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-188-45/

doc Draft of letter requesting cancellation of renunciation application (ddr-densho-188-47)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-188-47/

doc Letter from the Tule Lake Defense Committee (ddr-densho-188-48)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-188-48/

doc Notice of Approval of Renunciation of United States Nationality (ddr-densho-188-31)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-188-31/

doc Letter regarding renunciation status (ddr-densho-188-38)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-188-38/

doc Letter from the Tule Lake Committee regarding renuciation lawsuit (ddr-densho-188-53)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-188-53/

doc Letter regarding restoration of U.S. citizenship (ddr-densho-188-60)

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-188-60/

doc The Northwest Times Vol. 1 No. 3 (January 10, 1947) (ddr-densho-229-2)

"U.S. Court Hears Status of 5,500 Nisei" (p. 1), "Seeks Passage of Claims Bill" (p. 1), "M.I.S. Grads Total 2,675 in Monterey" (p. 1).

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-229-2/