[2] In February 1942, the Department of Justice acquired 80 acres of land and an old Civilian Conservation Corps camp from the New Mexico State Penitentiary in order to establish a facility for enemy aliens.

However, the camp's commander managed to persuade the would-be attackers to desist, reasoning that it would only lead to harsher treatment of American prisoners of war in Japanese custody.

[2] The internees from Tule Lake were described by author Everett M. Rogers: "They wore white headbands on their shaved heads, blew bugles, and behaved in a militantly Japanese manner."

"[2][3] On March 10, the camp guards made a complete search of the 366 men from Tule Lake, confiscating several dozen white shirts adorned with the Rising Sun, which had been banned at the facility.

In response, the camp's commander arranged to have the leaders of the protest, three men, removed to Fort Stanton, which also housed enemy aliens.

He also posted additional guards, equipped them with gas masks, submachine guns and shotguns, and told them to stay alert, because he expected trouble.

[2][5] On the morning of March 12, between 250 and 300 of the internees gathered at the wire fence running in front of the administration center of the camp to watch the three men's departure and protest.

At some point, a scuffle broke out and some of the ethnic Japanese began throwing rocks at the Border Patrol agents who were guarding the area.

Early that morning, Langston [phonetic], chief of the renraku [liaison office], escorted by several guards, inspected various buildings excluding the barracks and crafts room.

[2][3] Camp Santa Fe remained open after the war ended on September 2, 1945, to be used as a holding a processing center for the relocation of ethnic Japanese internees back to where they had come from .