What reason did the us use to justify Japanese internment?

The U.S. government justified Japanese internment during World War II primarily by citing national security concerns. Officials argued that individuals of Japanese descent, particularly on the West Coast, posed a potential risk of espionage or sabotage following the attack on Pearl Harbor. This rationale led to the forced relocation and incarceration of around 120,000 Japanese Americans, despite a lack of concrete evidence supporting claims of disloyalty. The internment is now widely recognized as a violation of civil rights.