Ellis Island has become a national symbol of America's acceptance of immigrants to our shores from all over the world. It, with the neighboring Statue of Liberty, has become an icon of some of the most benevolent and welcoming characteristics of the persona of the United States. Although Ellis Island was the largest point of entry of immigrants to this country, it was only one of 19 immigration stations.
From 1910 to 1940 over half a million immigrants disembarked on Angel Island in San Francisco harbor, often referred to as the "Ellis Island of the west." But where Ellis Island was largely set up as an efficient mechanism to accept immigrants into the United States, Angel Island primarily functioned as a much less efficient mechanism to keep immigrants out. Ellis Island was primarily a processing center for European immigrants that restricted but did not exclude potential citizens, while Angel Island was the main port of entry for Asians that was intent on legally permissible exclusion.
The contradictory relationship of America with its immigrants has a long history that has yet to be resolved. What the authors make abundantly clear is that the United States has long treated immigrants very differently based on race, nationality, gender and class.
From colonial times through the mid-nineteenth century immigration was encouraged to help settle this newly colonized land. There were dirty and dangerous jobs to build a transportation infrastructure and mine badly needed natural resources that many whites were reluctant to attempt. But when the gold played out, the initial stages of the transcontinental railroad were achieved, and the economy faltered - a racial backlash began to occur. It was in this milieu that attempts to severely restrict this largely Asian influx took root. Since San Francisco was the main entry point for Asian immigrants and the antipathy to them did not severely diminish their numbers to this shore, Angel Island was established to stem their onslaught.
While Angel Island admitted some half a million immigrants from 80 countries, the vast majority came from a handful of nations. Thus the authors have wisely chosen to delve into the seven largest contributors by telling each in a chapter devoted to their unique history. In addition the authors have brought these respective histories to life by adding in depth anecdotes of individual family's trials and tribulations in attempting to enter this country. These short bios with their attendant photos and documents bring their stories to life in a manner that just description could not accomplish.
Erika Lee and Judy Yung, the authors of the book, detail the process of immigration of the various nationalities that came to our western shore while relating the changes that occurred as new and more restrictive immigration laws were conceived and implemented.
It is interesting to note that the largest single group to immigrate through Angel Island was the Chinese, the group that was singled out for the most intense attempts to bar from our shores. The Chinese Exclusion Act, which was in force from 1882-1943, specifically barred all Chinese except for merchants and native-born citizens. Similar but somewhat less restrictive impediments were established to deal with the Japanese, Korean, South Asian, Filipino, Russians and Russian-Jews, and Mexicans. Class was also an element in these restrictions and was able to be enforced through a common reason for exclusion, the rather vague "LPC" - likely to become a public charge.
Despite all these impediments immigrants still streamed to our shores. As one present day immigration official stated it, "If you build a 50 foot fence, they will construct a 51 foot ladder." Immigrants battled back on several fronts. Most of the immigrant groups had friendship or nation associations in San Francisco to fight on behalf of the respective nationality. A coterie of skilled immigration lawyers developed to assist in the appeal process. But most importantly, a highly sophisticated industry of production of fake documents developed called "paper sons". These documents were intended to show an incoming immigrant to be related to an already established merchant or citizen. Additionally, the Japanese established "picture brides" which allowed Japanese men to bring women from Japan to marry in arranged marriages.
Although the authors have a tendency for repetition of key events and facts, this book is a well-written and significant addition to the history of immigration in this country. This document goes a long way in exposing an often ignored but critical chapter in the history of a country that often prides itself on being considered "a nation of immigrants." Additionally it is quite appropriate on the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Angel Island that we look at its history as we continue to deal with the complexity and contradictions of our immigrant past which in turn might assist us with our immigrant future.
