New Detention Center in El Paso Sparks Controversy Among Japanese Americans
The establishment of a new immigrant detention center at a location in El Paso, Texas that bears historical significance is sparking contention, particularly among Japanese Americans. The detention center, inaugurated in the August of 2025, is situated on the remains of a military establishment utilized for imprisoning Japanese Americans during global warfare years ago. Over the previous months, there have been an escalated number of Japanese American residents demonstrating against the plans for creating more immigrant detention centers. The cause for their apprehension is the reinstatement of memories of their ancestors’ forcible detainment during the World War II period.
The current administration is invoking the 1798 Alien and Enemies Act, a law which was last operational during World War II period, to fortify the detention powers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). An ominously similar law was the basis of Japanese American internment during the war. This specific act provides ICE the capability to detain and extradite overseas nationals perceived as ‘enemies’. The proposed re-establishment of the Dublin prison, located near San Francisco and earlier closed in 2024, is another aspect of this immigration plan that is cause for concern among many.
Donald Trump’s strategy to detain large numbers of immigrants is pivoted around reopening previously discontinued detention sites like Dublin prison. The reaction from the Japanese American community in the vicinity has been quite intensive since July when the proposal first surfaced. They foresee the recent ICE operations as a recurring episode of the historical events resulting in the imprisonment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans from 1942 to 1946.
According to an internal estimate by ICE, approximately 60,000 immigrants are currently confined across the United States. Civil rights advocates point out that Latino communities are mostly impacted by these operations, although the Department of Homeland Security refutes allegations of ethnic or racial targeting. Voices of concern are being raised amongst protesters; one named Lynn Yamashita voiced that the internment activities observed now are shamefully repetitive of the past incidents and indicated that this should never recur.
Douglas Yoshida, another participant in the protests, clarified his peaceful resistance stating it was baseless to refer to the Alien Enemies Act to detain and deport individuals without providing them due process. A quick comparison drawn between the perceived ICE-led targeting of Latino populations and the treatment of their own community during World War II by the Japanese American residents of California is noteworthy.
The location of these incidents bears high symbolism, as it was here that Japanese American families were forced to embark on buses headed to American detention camps back in 1942. This prompts the question: what is the historical context that surrounds it all? The build-up to World War II saw several legislative actions aimed at restricting Chinese and Japanese immigration into the U.S.
There was a significant degree of racial discrimination towards Asian immigrants, with many Caucasian-owned establishments refusing to provide Asians services or allow them to utilize leisure facilities such as swimming pools. A similar bias was observed in residential arrangements, where Asian looking individuals were ostensibly not allowed to rent or buy properties in predominantly white neighborhoods.
Nevertheless, Asian Immigrants strived to overcome these adversities, demonstrating resilience in starting businesses, farming lands, and working in various factory roles. Presently, Latino and Hispanic populations, who constitute around 19% of the U.S. workforce, continue to experience racial prejudices similar to what Asian immigrants faced in the past.
When the World War II broke out with Japan and U.S. standing on opposing fronts, Japanese residents in the U.S. were compelled into displacement and containment. This mistreatment was legally authorized by the executive order 9066, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in February 1942. Though the order did not mention any specific ethnic group, it was applied almost solely against Japanese residents and their U.S.-born offsprings.
Looking at the pattern of detainment, then and now, shows that the driving narrative has been to rid the nation of ‘undesirables’, whether they were perceived ‘enemies’ due to their looks or currently labeled as ‘violent criminals’ or ‘illegal immigrants’. Such a pattern indicates ICE’s alleged intention of achieving a daily immigrant arrest count of 3,000. However, the White House vehemently denies the existence of such a target.
Following this doctrine, hundreds are being imprisoned in hastily built camps situated in remote areas reminiscent of the ten World War II-era ‘relocation centers’. These camps were erected across the west and south of the country for the detainment of Japanese Americans, who were subsequently denied the habeas corpus right. This meant they could be confined indefinitely without a chance to defend themselves in a court of law.
Recently, the Trump administration hinted at the possibility of habaeus corpus suspension, raising fears about an unchecked detention duration in these camps, depriving detainees of their right to a fair hearing. It was only in 1988 that the U.S. admitted the grave injustice done against the Japanese Americans during World War II, citing race prejudice and ‘war hysteria’ as the motivations.
The lessons that were interpreted from this acknowledgment remain unclear. Especially concerning, is the apparent ignorance or disregard of these hard-earned lessons as evidenced by the current treatment of immigrants and their communities.