Law Enforcement Cooperation : Japanese Americans & Post-9/11 Muslim Profiling

• In Event: Governing AAPI People Through Immigration

Abstract

In the aftermath of the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the U.S. government stepped up efforts to interrogate and round up members of Muslim American community who were suspected of being a threat to the U.S. These efforts were both unique and part of a long legacy of how the U.S. government reacts in times of crisis and war especially to those viewed as “non-American or “the other.” Before WW II with a threat of war between the U.S. and Japan, certain first generation immigrants of Japanese descent were identified by military and law enforcement for possible roundup if war broke out. Subsequently, after the Japanese government attacked U.S. military forces at Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, JA community members that were deemed as ‘influential’ and or had ‘ties’ with Japan were rounded up and housed separately from other JA community members including their own families in detention and internment camps on Hawaii and in the Western states and South. As senior members of the communality were removed, a second generation of JA community members, some of whom were members of the recently formed Japanese American Citizens League cooperated with the U.S. government to demonstrate the loyalty of the community to America. Similarly, following 9/11, members of the Muslim American community were faced with the challenge of whether to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to demonstrate loyalty while members of their community were being interrogated and incarcerated under the suspicion of being terrorist and anti-U.S.
This paper analyzes these two historical moments that occurred 60 years apart, to examine how community leaders in heavily immigrant communities approached and responded to the US government’s efforts during the specific crisis. The paper uses archival material in case of Japanese Americans and interviews with the members of Muslims communities and law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles(2008-13). Our initial finding suggests that both groups were victimized by the U.S. government’s heavy handed and anti-democratic efforts. Both communities were divided internally about cooperation with law enforcement agencies. However, a strategy of cooperation dominated the second generation Japanese American community whereas Muslim Americans did not respond in the same way and avoided taking the route of cooperation to gain acceptance. The paper analyzes the distinctions and similarities between theses two moments by using framings like impact of civil rights movements and the emergence of multiculturalism in post-civil rights United States.

Authors

• Sangay K. Mishra, Drew University, New Jersey

• Kim Geron, California State University, East Bay