Ellis Island Vs. Angel Island

Ellis Island and Angel island were both immigration stations in the United States, but they were very different experiences...Check out how they contrast!

Ellis Island

  • In New York City Harbor
  •  Primarily European immigrants
  • Given physical exam
  • Documents checked to make sure the immigrant hasn't committed a felony
  • Don't endure harsh questioning
  • Only contained for a day or two
  • Not subject to racial discrimination
  • Sanitary
  • Not hard to pass through
  • Between 1892 and 1924, around 17 million immigrants came throught Ellis Island
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Angel Island

  •  In San Fransisco Bay
  • Primarily for Asian immigrants
  • Detained for sometimes up to 2 years
  • Endure harsh questioning, terrible interrogators
  • Many immigrants had to use a paper relative to get into the United States
  • Because of this, they had to go through bizarre questioning such as "Who owns the furniture in your home?" to try and weed out the people who actually had a relative in the U.S, and those who were using a paper one
  • Many people committed suicide while waiting to gain access to the U.S
  • Actually a graveyard there for those who died
  • Mr. Leung, who immigrated here from china in 1936 commented about Angel Island saying-"My deepest impression of Angel Island now was the rudeness of the white interrogators. They kept saying, "Come on, answer,answer!" They kept rushing me to answer until i couldn't remember the answer anymore."--this shows how difficult it was for immigrants passing through Angel Island.
  • Paper sons and daughters
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