What factor contributed to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War 2?

The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was primarily driven by wartime hysteria and racial prejudice following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Many U.S. officials and the public viewed Japanese Americans as potential threats to national security, despite the lack of evidence supporting this suspicion. This fear was exacerbated by longstanding racial stereotypes and economic competition, ultimately leading to the forced relocation and internment of around 120,000 Japanese Americans, most of whom were U.S. citizens. The decision was later recognized as a grave injustice and violation of civil rights.