What was the role of the War Relocation Authority during World War II?

The War Relocation Authority was established by the U.S. government during World War II specifically to manage the internment of Japanese Americans. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, there was widespread fear and suspicion regarding individuals of Japanese ancestry, which led to the belief that they might pose a security risk. Consequently, the U.S. government authorized the forced relocation and internment of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans, most of whom were U.S. citizens.

The War Relocation Authority was responsible for overseeing the internment camps where these individuals were held, as well as the logistics related to their removal from the West Coast and the management of their living conditions in the camps. This agency was tasked with the administration of a program that was justified on the grounds of national security but is now widely recognized as a violation of civil liberties and an act of racial discrimination. Therefore, the role of the War Relocation Authority was pivotal in the implementation of this controversial policy.