Ishida v. United States

31 Fed. Cl. 280, 1994 U.S. Claims LEXIS 82, 1994 WL 150330
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedApril 22, 1994
DocketNo. 93-343C
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 31 Fed. Cl. 280 (Ishida v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ishida v. United States, 31 Fed. Cl. 280, 1994 U.S. Claims LEXIS 82, 1994 WL 150330 (uscfc 1994).

Opinion

OPINION

FUTEY, Judge.

This ease involves the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (Act), 50 U.S.CApp. § 1989, et seq. (1993). Plaintiff seeks to recover $20,000.00 pursuant to the Act, which provides payment to individuals of Japanese ancestry who were deprived of liberty or property resulting from actions taken by the United States government during World War II. The Department of Justice (DOJ), which is the Agency charged with administering the funds, determined that plaintiff was ineligible for compensation under the Act. Plaintiff seeks a reversal of DOJ’s denial of redress pursuant to its regulations, and a finding that DOJ’s interpretation under the regulations is unconstitutional. Defendant contends that it justly denied plaintiff’s application for compensation and avers that the regulations are constitutional. The instant action is before [282]*282the court on cross-motions for summary judgment.

Facts

On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order authorizing the Secretary of War, and the military commanders to whom he delegated authority, the power to exclude “any and all persons” from designated areas in order to provide security against espionage and sabotage. See, Exec. Order No. 9066, 7 Fed.Reg. 1407 (1942); Korematsu v. United States, 323 U.S. 214, 65 S.Ct. 193, 89 L.Ed. 194 (1944). Although the Order never made specific reference, it was primarily directed towards United States citizens or resident aliens of Japanese descent. Ultimately, by Public Proclamation, the entire Pacific Coast was declared particularly susceptible to espionage and sabotage, resulting in the exclusion of all persons of Japanese descent from the area. At first, the United States government initiated a “voluntary” relocation program from the “military areas” on the West Coast; those who left their homes were free to relocate to other areas of the United States. Later, a mandatory relocation program was instituted and all Japanese-Americans in the military zones were required to report to designated holding areas and were ultimately sent to internment camps. This also included an estimated 5,000 individuals who were arrested and taken from their homes in Hawaii, and over 1,000 individuals who were sent to camps on the Mainland. Although a majority of the Japanese-Americans residing in Hawaii were not placed in camps, they were forced to live in “government provided quarters.” Even Japanese-American veterans, who had honorably served their country, were summarily discharged from military service, and prohibited from returning to their homes.

Prior to the current statute, Congress, in 1948, enacted the Japanese-American Evacuation Claims Act. A1956 amendment to that Act gave jurisdiction to the Court of Claims, “to entertain suits by those of the dispossessed who had been unable to obtain acceptable relief through the claims procedures administered by the Attorney General.” Taki Sonoda v. United States, 154 Ct.Cl. 130, 133, 1961 WL 8731 (1961).1 The Japanese-[283]*283American Evacuation Claims Act attempted to rectify particular loss or damage to property, as well as injury to physical and mental health. In comparison, the Civil Liberties Act, was adopted in 1988 by Congress in an attempt to address the general harm of governmental intolerance, to formally apologize, and as best it could, make reparations to individuals of Japanese descent who were taken from their homes and/or forced to move to relocation camps during World War II. Congress substantiates this act of repentance with financial restitution to eligible individuals. Individuals who are “eligible” for redress under the Act are defined as:

Any individual of Japanese ancestry who is living on the date of enactment of this Act, and who, during the evacuation, relocation and internment period ... was confined, held in custody, relocated or otherwise deprived of liberty or property as a result of ... [the United States government’s actions].

Sections 1989b-8 through -5; 1989b-7(2).

In 1992, the Act was expanded, and the term “eligible individual” now includes the spouse or a parent of an eligible individual. See, Civil Liberties Act Amendments of 1992, P.L. 102-371,106 Stat. 1167 (1992). In addition, “eligibility” requires that the harm described in the Act must have occurred between December 7, 1941 and June 30, 1946.

The Attorney General is charged with identifying and locating all “eligible individuals,” and to provide them each with $20,-000.00 from an established trust fund. The Attorney General has promulgated regulations in order to implement the Act’s agenda. See, 54 Fed.Reg. No. 159, p. 34157, et seq. (28 C.F.R. Part 74). In 28 C.F.R. § 74.3 eligibility determinations are set forth as:

(a) An individual is found to be eligible if such an individual:
(1) Is of Japanese ancestry; and
(2) Was living on the date of enactment of the Act, August 10, 1988; and
(3) During the evacuation, relocation, and internment period was—
(i) A United States citizen; or
(ii) A permanent resident alien who was lawfully admitted into the United States; or
(iii) An alien, who after the evacuation, relocation and internment period, was permitted by applicable statutes to obtain status of permanent resident alien extending to the internment period; and
(4) Was confined, held in custody, relocated, or otherwise deprived of liberty or property as a result of—
(i) Executive Order 9066, dated February 19, 1942;
(ii) The Act entitled “An Act to provide a penalty for violation of restrictions or orders with respect to persons entering, remaining, leaving, or committing any act in military areas or zones,” approved March 21, 1942; or
(iii) Any other Executive order, presidential proclamation, law of the United States, or other action taken by or on behalf of the United States or its agents, representatives, officers, or employees, respecting the evacuation, relocation, or internment of individuals solely on the basis of Japanese ancestry.

Pertinent to this case, is the fact that individuals who are deemed to have suffered a loss and are, therefore, eligible include:

Individuals bom in assembly centers, relocation centers or internment camps to parents of Japanese ancestry who had been evacuated, relocated or interned ... including children bom in the United States to parents of Japanese ancestry who were relocated to the United States from other countries in the Americas during the internment period.

Plaintiff, Douglas Ishida, is a citizen of the United States, and is of Japanese ancestry born on November 23, 1942. His parents, Japanese-American citizens, “voluntarily” evacuated from a “military zone” in Fresno, California, and relocated to Marion, Ohio, in February 1942.

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Bluebook (online)
31 Fed. Cl. 280, 1994 U.S. Claims LEXIS 82, 1994 WL 150330, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ishida-v-united-states-uscfc-1994.