What happens to you while are there at Ellis Island?

When immigrants arrived at Ellis Island, they went through a series of steps before being allowed to enter the United States.

1. Registration: Immigrants would first register with the immigration officials, where they would provide their names, ages, occupations, and countries of origin.

2. Medical Inspection: Immigrants were subjected to a medical examination to check for contagious diseases. Those who were found to be ill were either quarantined or sent back to their home countries.

3. Legal Inspection: This inspection was conducted to determine whether immigrants were eligible to enter the United States. Immigration officials checked for criminal records and any other factors that might make immigrants inadmissible, such as being members of anarchist organizations.

4. Manifests: Ship manifests, which were lists of passengers and crew members, were checked to ensure that all those listed were present and accounted for.

5. Interrogation: Immigrants were interviewed by immigration officers to verify the information they had provided and to assess their suitability for entry into the United States.

6. Detention: Immigrants who were suspected of being inadmissible or who needed further processing were detained at Ellis Island. Detention could last for days or even weeks while their cases were reviewed.

7. Release or Deportation: After completing the inspection process, immigrants were either released and allowed to enter the United States or deported back to their home countries if they were found to be inadmissible.