Ellis Island: The Role Of Immigration In The United States

These words by Emma Lazarus, inscribed on a plaque on the Statue of Liberty, strike a chord of yearning for freedom in the minds of suffering yet hopeful people, and invoke a picture of the United States meeting the immigrant with open arms. The United States is often called a nation of immigrants, and yet US history reveals many examples of anti-immigrant sentiment, actions, and legal restrictions. Which is true --that America is a nation of immigrants or that it is a nation that does not support immigration?

Throughout the history of the United States immigration has become apart of our country’s fabric which, began centuries ago. Only to become a hot topic in the US in recent years with its primary focus being illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration is when people enter a country without government permission. As of 2008 the Center for Immigration Studies estimated that there are 11 million illegal immigrants in the US which is down from 2007‘s 12.5 million people. Although the Center for Immigration Studies estimates are very different from other estimates that range from 7 to 20 million. While the Pew Hispanic Center estimated in March of 2009 there are 11.1 million illegal immigrants and that number is from March 2007’s peak of 12

Ellis Island is a small island located in the Upper New York Bay. Angel Island is the largest island in the San Francisco Bay in the state of California. Ellis Island served as a national immigration station from 1892-1924. Angel Island was an immigration station from 1910-1940. Both Islands helped America grow by opening their doors to the world. Immigrants who came to America now had a chance to achieve their own dreams and to start new lives. The country was new, the government was rising up and it gave immigrants an opportunity to succeed. Life was still going to be hard but people now had a chance to accomplish their dreams. Some immigrants came to America because other governments were failing or because they saw potential in

Ellis Island was the stopping grounds from 1892 to 1954, for over twelve million immigrants, who entered the United States as a way to conquer new opportunities and live a better life that mirrors the American Dream . Ellis Island is a small island that sits in the S hadow of The Statue of Liberty right off the tip of Manhattan by the coast of New Jersey within the New York Harbor. It was the major harbor for immigrant’s entry, all who came, arrived by steamboats and had one to two weeks of travel. On the steamboat the passengers were divided according to wealth and class. The staterooms and cabins were designed for the first and second class passengers and the large open space at the bottom of the boat was called “steerage” this area was assigned

According to History.com, “it is estimated that close to 40% percent of all U.S citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors of Ellis Island.” This information is important because it shows you how big of a role Ellis Island played in U.S immigration. Ellis Island was important to many immigrants because it meant freedom, new possibilities, and a new life.

There has been many immigrants coming to the United States through Ellis Island. The immigration process takes a long time because of all of the steps that they have to go through.

One promise of America is to allow freedom to its people. As described in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1936 speech, “[Immigrants] came to us speaking many tongues—but a single language, the universal language of human aspiration,” (Roosevelt, 3). Although immigrants have various customs, they “are all bound together by hope of a common future rather than by reverence for a common past,” (Roosevelt, 7) which leads them to unite, regardless of their differences, as citizens of the New World. They expect, once they arrive, not only to learn new things, but to have the freedom to retain their old knowledge and beliefs as well. President Roosevelt also mentioned that “[t]hey not only found freedom in the New World, but by their effort and devotion, they made the New World’s freedom safer, richer, and far more reaching, more capable of growth,” (Roosevelt, 4).

On July 4, 1776 America became free to be its own nation without a king to tell us what to do. Soon after we separated with England we started welcoming new people to America and started making it diverse. People came from all over the world for the same reason the original colonists did, in search of the “American Dream.” The American Dream is the idea that everyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work, motivation, and determination. People were coming here to escape their country and join ours. We were known as the country that everybody could be what they wanted to be. America has dropped to a point of where undocumented immigrants are not as welcomed as they used to be. In the poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus it shows how America used to welcome everyone from all around the world and kept the American Dream alive. Americans want to limit the number of immigrants they are allowed in the United States and if this continues we will be hurting America.

Since the late 1800s to the 1920s, immigrants have been coming into America searching for better lives. America was always a symbol of freedom and great opportunities. The Statue of Liberty lays out the duties of America to all the people in the world. Engraved on the statue it states “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."This verse symbolizes the openness of America to all kinds of people and their willingness to create a new life for them. “Because of the open-minded immigration movement upon which this country was built, the immigration laws of the past proved more inviting and simplistic than the vast panoply of current regulations and procedures.” according to Trent R. Hightower, author of “An Analysis of the Current State of United States Immigration Law, and Possible Changes on the Horizon”. Prior to new immigration laws, individuals were able to enter the U.S without any restrictions. By the nineteenth century the US turned away many

During the years of the 1900s, there were young men that were immigrants that traveled to the United States to become citizens and make money to provide for themselves and their families. The book “The Long Way Home An American Journey from Ellis Island to the Great War”, written by David Laskin, explains the lives of twelve immigrants that fought for their adopted country (the U.S.). Laskin pointed out the difficulties that these twelve immigrants and their families had to go through to accomplish something very important to them, “Freedom”. If history of war is what you are interested in, then listen to what is explained in this book.

Today, immigration is one of most divisive issues facing our nation. Historically, America has had a long and generous tradition of welcoming as equal citizens a large number of immigrants. However, this tradition has been challenged recently by both far left and far right groups who do not agree on the current restrictions, or lack there of, regarding immigration. What seems to be the common ground both sides find is the premise that America’s founding principles continue to be vital in the modern era, "any human being is capable of becoming an American, because of the equality principle that defines America," (pg. 147, Vindicating the Founders'). If we believe in human equality as American's is it fair to deny entry to anyone? In his book, Vindicating the Founders', Thomas G. West provides the best understanding of immigration through the eyes of America's Founders'. And, in doing so West helps find answers to some of the questions current immigration policy has raised. Specifically, we will explore what West calls "the right to exclude".

Clearly this is only an illusion as so many immigrants found out after they were stripped of their dignity just after stepping on to American soil. The U.S. has gotten better, however controversy has arisen about immigration. About whether immigrants are beneficial to the United States. This controversy, conflict with the beliefs Emma Lazarus had when she wrote the sonnet, The New Colossus. She believed that America would be a better place than all of the Old World countries. She believed that America would protect and house immigrants and serve as a protector not seeking to be selfish. America has not turned out according to Emma’s beliefs, but instead, has shown a blatant shunning of any immigrant it has deemed hazardous. This act is ironic, because America was built by immigrants. “There should not be a question of legal or illegal immigration. People came and immigrated to this country from the time of the Indians. No one's illegal. They should just be able to come,” says Linda

There is gigantic problems in the united states such as drug trafficking, and decrease in jobs. These can be connected to illegal immigrants. It is with clear understanding the reason Trump wants this wall, and this is to solve these problems. although seen as many as unethical. The thing is the US has a problem, he has a solution, while others have knocked his idea down they have not offered up any ideas either. With that said we should move forward with the

President Trump’s notorious slogan “Build The Wall” seems have been coming out of his mouth every single day since the election. Many people complain about the increase in illegal immigrants coming into the United States and Trump believes a wall will solve the issue instantly. This idiotic wall he talks about will be built alongside the border of The United States and Mexico but it gets even better… he wants Mexico to pay for it, how neighborly of him! This method attempting to keep illegal immigrants has been supported by many people in the United States since Trump brought it up in his early conventions. Why do these people support this delusional method? Is a wall seriously the last resort? The concept of the wall will only prevent immigrants

Regulating the Melting Pot of AmericaInspired by a simple misuse of the English language, The Ghosts of Ellis Island, writtenby Mary Gordon, stated, “I could feel all that [Ellis Island] stood for: insecurity, obedience,anxiety, dehumanization, [and] the terrified and careful deference of the displaced” (Gordon 39). Ellis Island is a monument to a time in American history when immigrants were required to beinspected like luggage, and pass inspection, prior to entry into the United States of America.However, Ellis Island is only a small fraction of the history behind immigration in America. Prior to Ellis Island, anyone could enter the United States, and after Ellis Island, immigrants were required to obtain visas prior to traveling to America. The following paragraphs will discuss the three systems of immigration in the United States- no screening required, the screenings at Ellis Island, and the requirement of travel visas prior to travel to America. The essay will conclude with a brief argument for the most-appropriate method for entry into the United States.The United States was essentially founded upon immigration, and initially, no laws governed immigration into America. People simply arrived and established colonies, towns,communities, and territories. Many of the first immigrants to America included religious groupsseeking refuge from strict laws governing religion in their home countries. Some were criminals and scoundrels looking to avoid jail sentences. Still