Immigration has always been a critical issue for the United States, as we are a nation of immigrants. Although people were immigrating to America since the colonial era, number of immigrants was not substantial in the earlier days, which changed in the mid-19th century during and after the construction of the first transcontinental railroads. By the late 19th century, the rise in industries and innovations created a booming economy and enticed people from all around the world to immigrate to America, for underlying opportunities and make their life better, in pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. During the study of Immigrant Experience, something new I learned about was the severity of Asian exclusion, which banned Asians from naturalization. …show more content…
Immigrants were gathered in large halls and inspected for physical and mental well-being. They were also vetted to make sure they will not be a burden to the American welfare program. They were given various tests to determine mental health and thoroughly interrogated to ensure they had the necessary skills to prosper and contribute to society. Additionally, the role Ellis Island played as an immigration hub during the late 19th and early 20th centuries was significant. More than 2.3 million immigrants entered through Ellis Island between 1925 and 1954, a figure representing more than half of immigrants. Finally, something that surprised me was the number of deaths and births on Ellis Island while waiting to be processed. The vetting process was so extensive and time-consuming that thousands of people died, and hundreds were born while waiting. Most of the immigrants that migrated to the U.S. were lower class and middle-class people who wanted a better life and were carrying their American dream, but it also included some wealthy people, who were allowed to skip testing and inspection given their