On Guard

The camp’s entrance was a stark and constant reminder that the internees were prisoners in their own country. Although most internees were U.S. born citizens loyal to the country’s principles and values, they were denied their civil, constitutional, and human rights and were no longer free. The entrance gate was the most heavily guarded location in the camp, where Military Police monitored the daily flow of traffic as people moved in and out. Camp visitors and internees had to wait in the Reception Building for clearance before entering or leaving, while armed guards at the entrance station stood watch to ensure compliance. Posts were sunk deep into the ground, wires were strung all the way around, and machine gun nests, sentries, and soldiers were everywhere.

Idaho · United States