The Enemy Alien Files Consortium
“The Enemy Alien Files” Consortium is a unique collaboration among the Japanese, German and Italian American communities who initially came together in 2000 to develop the groundbreaking traveling exhibit, “The Enemy Alien Files: Hidden Stories of World War II.” The exhibit first debuted in 2001, ten days after the 9/11 tragedy, and provided a timely opportunity to explore the fragile nature of our constitutional and human rights in times of international and domestic crisis as well as the human impact of government policies in the name of “national security.” Twenty years later, such reflection and dialogue remains ever relevant today.
The Consortium continues to organize educational projects and promote public dialogue about the WWII experiences of immigrants targeted as “the enemy” and their families in the U.S. and from Latin America, and lessons which may be applicable to current national and world events.
This exhibition is based on a project titled, Enemy Alien Files: Department of Justice Internment Sites, and is supported by a grant from the Japanese American Confinement Sites, administered by the National Park Service. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of the Interior nor of other past funders or donors, including the California Council for the Humanities (an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities), the California Arts Council, nor the California Legislature.