Bluffer’s guide

USA, 1892–1954

Everything you need to know about Ellis Island, the gateway to New York

What was it?

A small islet in the shadow of the Statute of Liberty, Ellis Island was the entry point for millions who sought to start a new life in America for over 60 years. Facing an unprecedented wave of new arrivals at the turn of the century, the government established Ellis Island as the first federal immigration inspection station.

Between 1892 and 1924, it is estimated that around 12 million people entered the United States through Ellis Island. However, not all new arrivals to New York City went through the famous facility. The authorities believed firstand second-class steamship passengers were less likely to become a public charge so they only underwent a cursory inspection aboard their ships before passing through customs. Only the poorest immigrants, who travelled in steerage class, were transported to Ellis Island to undergo through medical and legal inspection.

If an immigrant’s papers were in order and they were in good health, the process would last three to five hours. But sick passengers could be detained on the ‘Island of Tears’ until they recovered and passengers ran the risk of being deported if they failed to meet an inspector’s standards.

Why did it happen?

The high volume of immigration to the United States at the turn of the 20th century was driven by numerous factors, including political instability and an economic downturn in Europe. Improvements in steam power also improved travel in the late 19th century, shortening the journey from 15.5 days in 1838 to just 4.5 by 1907.

Up until 1892, US immigration was handled at the state level but the unprecedented number of arrivals forced the federal government to intervene. They moved New York’s entry point to Ellis Island as its size allowed it to process more people and it provided an area to assess immigrants before they reached the mainland.

Eventually, so-called ‘nativist’ politicians introduced new restrictions to stem mass migration, such as the 1921 Quota Laws and the 1924 National Origins Act. This signalled the death knell for Ellis Island as an entry point. After 1924, it only held those who had problems with their paperwork, war refugees and other displaced persons.