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ImmigrationProf Blog
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A Visit to Ellis Island Would Be Good

By immigrationprof

A Commentary from Tom Ehrich

A trip to Ellis Island requires long lines and long waits.

 

   

But it’s nothing like theanxious hours, sometimes days, of scrutiny once imposed on poorerimmigrants seeking entry into the United States after two weeks insteerage on an ocean liner. Our wait wasmore like the processing time for immigrants who could afford first- orsecond-class tickets; after brief inspection onboard ship, they wereallowed straight into America. The theory was that anyone who couldafford a decent berth wouldn’t become a burden on American society. Click here  for the full text.

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