Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday made a formal apology for the internment of Italian-Canadians during the Second World War. After Italy declared war against Canada in 1940, Canada interned more than 600 people of Italian heritage and declared about 31,000 as “enemy aliens." Trudeau said in Parliament Thursday that those labeled “enemy aliens” were fingerprinted, scrutinized and forced to report to local registrars once a month.

“To the men and women who were taken to prisoner of war camps or jail without charge — people who are no longer with us to hear this apology — To the tens of thousands of innocent Italian-Canadians who were labelled enemy aliens — To the children and grandchildren who have carried a past generation’s shame and hurt — And to their community — a community that has given so much to our country — We are sorry,” Trudeau said.