70: Ellis Island

 

70 years ago today (November 12, 1954) Ellis Island closed its doors.

Opened in 1892 it saw the arrival of 12 Million Immigrants to the United States in the 62 years it was open.

Ellis Island had a Main Building, a Kitchen and Laundry, a Bakery and Carpentry Shop, a Baggage Area, a Dormitory, a Powerhouse, a Recreation Hall, a Ferry Building and a Hospital.

The peak year for immigration at Ellis Island was 1907, with 1,004,756 Immigrants processed.

The all-time daily high occurred on April 17, 1907 when 11,747 Immigrants arrived.

Until 1924 Immigrants did not need Passports or Visas to enter the US. They had to prove they had no Physical or Mental Disabilities, Poor Morals (including Homosexuality) and wouldn’t be a burden to the US Taxpayer.

The 1924 Immigration Act prevented Immigration from Asia, set-up an Immigration Visa System where Foreigners needed an American Sponsor and set-up a Quota System in which low quota numbers of new Immigration Visas were given to Eastern Europeans (especially to Jews) and Southern Europeans and high quota numbers of new Immigration Visas were given to Central and Northern Europeans.

The Quota System and needing an American Sponsor for a Visa were ended with the 1965 Immigration Act.

120,000 Would-Be Immigrants landed at Ellis Island and were denied entry to the United States and deported back to their Home Countries.

Ellis Island became a Museum open to the public in 1965.