They “japs” were around. FDR rounded up some 120,000 Americans of Japanese decent, confiscated their property and interned them in concentration camps. Liberal’s/progressives all did this. This was in 1941.
“confiscated their property”
No.
Also, there was a bucketload of spies and aspiring saboteurs among them.
Besides, if he hadn’t done it, people would be badmouthing Americans for the various abuses perpetrated against the Japanese.