* Medical reasons. If a family member was found to have a contagious disease, they would be quarantined and separated from the rest of the family.
* Legal reasons. If a family member had a criminal record or was deemed to be a threat to national security, they would be detained and separated from the rest of the family.
* Economic reasons. If a family did not have enough money to support themselves in the United States, they might be separated and sent to different locations where they could find work.
* Language barriers. If a family member did not speak English, they might be separated from the rest of the family and sent to a special class where they could learn the language.
It is important to note that family separations were not a common occurrence at Ellis Island. In fact, the vast majority of families were able to stay together. However, there were some cases in which families were separated, and it was a very difficult experience for those involved.
