To the Editor:

The Department of Justice's Office of Special Investigations should be applauded for their work in bringing Nazis to justice ("Bellevue man linked by U.S. to WWII Nazi hunt," Times, page one, July 16). The office is an important part of our national conscience with Nazi-era atrocities.

Since American law prohibits anyone who participated in Nazi-sponsored acts of persecution from becoming a citizen, the Department of Justice's work is the appropriate legal action to take when, as in the case of Peter Egner, it appears that an American citizen did not disclose involvement in persecution activities at the time he or she obtained citizenship.

It is imperfect justice, and justice much delayed. But these proceedings are an important demonstration of our country's commitment never to forget the Holocaust. For those who say the Department of Justice has better things to do, the passage of time may mitigate memory, but it does not absolve those who committed atrocities.