The Facts of Korematsu v. United States:
On December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked and the United States is at war
with Japan. Mr. Korematsu is an American citizen of Japanese ancestry. He lives
in a home in San Leandro, California. San Leandro has been designated as a
"Military Area" to ensure its protection against invasion from Japan while at
war with the U.S.
In may of 1942 a military officer will appear at the front door of
Korematsu's home. Korematsu will be presented with the Civilian Exclusion Order
and told to leave his home at once and go to an "assembly center." Korematsu
refuses to leave his home and protests the order. The officer again orders
Korematsu to leave but this time tells Korematsu that as a person of Japanese
origin, he presents a threat of espionage and sabotage. Korematsu continues to
protest and states that he is a loyal American citizen and it makes no
difference that his ancestors were born in Japan. The officer then ushers
Korematsu to the assembly center. At the assembly center, Korematsu complains
that there must be something unconstitutional about confining him in this
manner.
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