Eliot Engel: “On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and the United States entered World War II. What has been…”

“On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and the United States entered World War II. What has been overlooked since that day is the fact that many Italian Americans suddenly became ``enemy aliens''. Loyal Italian American patriots who had fought alongside the United States Armed Forces in World War I, mothers and fathers of U.S. troops, even women and children were suspected of being dangerous and subversive. With this new enemy alien status, Italians were subjected to strict curfew regulations, forced to carry photo ID's and could not travel further than a 5 mile radius from their homes without prior approval. Furthermore, many Italian fishermen were forbidden from using their boats in prohibited zones. Since fishing was the only means of income for many families, households were torn apart or completely relocated as alternative sources of income were sought.”