Life on Ellis Island Book

Discusses life on Ellis Island, including detainment and deportation of immigrants, daily activities, the development of the immigration station, its role in the formation of ...

Children's Literature

Between 1892 and 1954, 12 million people entered the United States through the Ellis Island immigration station. The average processing time for immigrants was five hours, but for many it was months. There were as many as 4000 people on the island at one time. As excited as these newcomers were, it was potentially a very frightening time. Because of the sheer numbers of people involved and communication problems, the threat of deportation created a great deal of anxiety. An eye disease, trachoma, was one of the most common reasons an immigrant would be deported. Many of the deported had nowhere to return to, having sold all of their possessions to pay for passage to the United States. Like any facility, Ellis Island evolved to become more efficient and humane. A look at our long tradition of welcoming immigrants is important today as our country continues in that role. 2000, Lucent Books,