Dorothea Lange photographs of Japanese internment camps

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2. Most of the people who were interned were born in the USA.

They were citizens. Japanese immigrants were not allowed to apply for citizenship, no matter how long they had lived here. Their American children and grandchildren were sent to live in camps (along with immigrant relatives) in God-forsaken parts of the country. In most cases, the able-bodied men were expected to build their own (prefab) housing.

The vast majority of Japanese-Americans lived on the West Coast and were given just three days notice to try to sell their property. Many owned farms and businesses, which they were often forced to sell at a tremendous loss or put in the hands of whites, who might or might not be trustworthy. Many lost everything they had.

Over time, some internee families were cleared of suspicion and allowed to move to the Midwest, primarily Chicago.