What is the importance of the Tanforan Assembly Center in the novel, Daughter of Moloka'i?

The Tanforan Assembly Center is the first location the family is sent to during their internment. Conditions are squalid as the rooms the family are given used to be horse stalls. Still, they fix up the room the best they can. The Assembly Center has a newspaper, and the residents attempt to act patriotic to show their loyalty and that they are better than they are treated.