“These camps signify a dark period in our nation's history, and I applaud Judge McElroy for his efforts to preserve these historical landmarks so we may never forget the injustices waged against Japanese Americans living in the U.S. during World War II," Ross said. “Judge McElroy's hard work to protect the structures at these camps has been tremendous and I am committed to helping him secure the necessary federal resources to ensure their proper preservation as a vital part of our country’s history.” 

“I am excited about the opportunity to meet with Representative Honda and Representative Ross about the Relocation Center in Rohwer,” McElroy said. “I was impressed with his attention and willingness to work with Desha County on this project and I look forward to making the Relocation Center at Rohwer a tourist stop for all people visiting Arkansas.”

On November 16, 2005, Ross helped pass H.R. 1492 which was signed into Public Law 109-441 by President Bush on December 21, 2006. This bill provides for the preservation of the historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. This legislation would provide federal funding to localities to preserve Japanese-American Internment Camp Sites through grants from the Department of the Interior.

There were 10 Japanese-American Internment Camp Sites in the United States, of which two are in Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District. They are located in Rohwer and Jerome, AR. The Rohwer Detention Camp, located in Desha County, opened in September of 1942 and detained more than 11,000 people. The Jerome Detention Camp, located in Drew County, opened in October of 1942 and detained over 10,000 people.

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