Chronology of Internment By sjpaden Dec 7, 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor Dec 8, 1941 United States declares war Feb 19, 1942 Executive Order 9066 Mar 21, 1942 Public Law 503 signed into law. Enforces penalties for violating exclusion orders Aug 14, 1945 Japan surrenders Sep 4, 1945 Western Defense Command revokes restrictions Mar 20, 1946 Relocation Centers closed Jul 2, 1948 Japanese-American Claims Act Feb 19, 1976 Proclamation 4417 Aug 10, 1988 Civil Liberties Act.