On This Day

Ellis Island

November 12, 1954, Ellis Island is closed. Opened January 1, 1892, Ellis Island was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants to the United States.

The federal government assumed control of immigration in 1890, and Congress appropriated $75,000 to construct America's first federal immigration station on Ellis Island.

Upon arrival, immigrants were asked 29 questions including name, occupation, and the amount of money carried. It was important to the U.S. government the new arrivals could support themselves and have money to get started. The average the government wanted the immigrants to have was between 18 and 25 dollars ($600 in 2015 adjusted for inflation). Those with visible health problems or diseases were sent home or held in the island's hospital facilities for long periods of time. Some unskilled workers were rejected because they were considered "likely to become a public charge." About 2% were denied admission to the U.S. and sent back to their countries of origin for reasons such as having a chronic contagious disease, criminal background, or insanity.

With the passing of the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, the number of immigrants being allowed into the United States declined greatly. The passing of the bill ended the era of mass immigration. After 1924, Ellis Island became primarily a detention and deportation processing station.

The last person to pass through Ellis Island was a Norwegian merchant seaman, in 1954. Today, about one-third to 40% of the population of the United States — can trace their ancestry to immigrants who arrived in America at Ellis Island before dispersing to points all over the country.