Why did they think the Japanese citizens were spies from japan?

During World War II, U.S. government officials and military leaders harbored fears that Japanese citizens, particularly those living in the United States, could act as spies for Japan. This suspicion stemmed from the attack on Pearl Harbor and the belief that Japanese Americans might have divided loyalties. The perception was fueled by racial prejudices and wartime hysteria, leading to the internment of thousands of Japanese Americans, despite a lack of evidence supporting the notion that they were spies or posed a threat to national security.