Tule Lake History

Security at Tule Lake was increased with a battalion of 1,000 military police. Tanks rolled in, and an eight-foot high double “man-proof” fence was constructed around the maximum-security facility. During the fall of 1943, thousands of prisoners were transferred into and out of Tule Lake. Ultimately, some 12,000 “no-no’s,” including their family members were transferred to Tule Lake. About 6,500 were sent to other camps and 6,000 pre-segregation Tuleans remained. Some refused to answer the loyalty oath or responded “no-no.” Others did not want to make another grueling move due to sick or aging family members, or wanted to remain and keep their family together. Some did not want to give up jobs and the little security they had for an uncertain future in a new camp.

After segregation, Tule Lake became a very complicated prison camp with inmates from different camps. With more than 18,700 people crowded into a camp built for 15,000, Tule Lake Segregation Center became the largest of the ten WRA camps. Additional barracks were constructed for 1,800 Manzanar inmates who were not segregated until early spring 1944. In late spring, contingents from Colorado River, Rohwer, and Jerome arrived and were assigned to the leftover housing and less desirable jobs. Tempers were short and frustrations were high. 

At other WRA camps, many of those defined as loyal were being released, while Tule Lake became a repressive, high-security prison filled with the dissatisfied. Many were disillusioned Issei who, because of the 1924 Japanese Exclusion Act, were not allowed to become U.S. Citizens and opted to repatriate to Japan, deciding they had enough of America’s racism. Others were angered by their unjust treatment as second-class citizens and used the loyalty questions as a form of non-violent protest. Many were spouses or family members who did not want to be separated from their head of household.