FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1994 (202) 616-2765 TDD (202) 514-1888 JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES POTENTIAL ELIGIBILITY OF JAPANESE AMERICANS WHO LIVED IN PHOENIX AREA FOR REDRESS PAYMENTS WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fifty six Japanese Americans whose business and personal activities in the Phoenix area were restricted during World War II may be potentially eligible for redress payments under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, the U.S. Department of Justice announced today. After reviewing the cases of these claimants, the Civil Rights Division's Office of Redress Administration (ORA) concluded that those persons who lived around Phoenix may be eligible as a result of a mandatory exclusion program implemented in southern Arizona. Military proclamations created a restricted zone in the southern part of Arizona, as well as areas in the west coast. Although persons living in the northern half of Arizona were not evacuated or interned, ORA determined that a termination of significant pre-existing and on-going business and personal activities in their daily lives in the exclusion zone amounted to losses of liberty or property. Specifically, these claimants suffered deprivations in business and personal activities, such as transfers to other schools, or substantial disruption of business or working arrangements, which might make them entitled to payments under the law. "I am very pleased that we were able to come to a positive resolution on these cases," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick. "Perhaps it will finally bring an end to this difficult chapter of American history for the former residents of Arizona." In the next few weeks, ORA will be sending letters to these claimants requesting that they submit documentation which tends to corroborate their claims. Documents, such as school records, property or business tax records, etc., will assist ORA in expediting these claims. If an individual has not included supporting documentation, then he or she should forward any supporting documentation to ORA as soon as possible. If ORA requires additional information, ORA will contact the claimant shortly. ORA will also require documentation, including proof of their identities and current addresses, prior to payment. If the proper documentation is submitted on a timely basis, ORA expects to pay these individuals in October 1994. Since 1988 ORA has paid approximately $1.59 billion dollars to 79,943 Japanese Americans under the Civil Liberties Act. # # # 94-436