The Immigrant process for 3rd Class Passengers ...
"At Ellis Island there was nothing to do. You just had to sit around. You could walk up and down among the crowds and wait for the man to come with chewing gum or an apple, but you couldn't go anyplace…. Even prisoners go out into the yard. But we were kept in a place that was all enclosed. I could walk up and down, back and forth, and up and down, and back and forth. That was the extent of my exercise."
-Ettie Glaser, English, at Ellis Island in 1923, age 18
Upon arrival, immigrants were herded into the Great Hall, after leaving all of their luggage in the baggage room, where they were to sit and wait to be called for their medical inspections. Immigrants completed a thorough medical exam, and were then asked to show their identification documents where they were reviewed and additionally asked questions such as their age, destination, and employment. This process usually took approximately 5 hours. Those who did not pass the medical inspection were labeled with markers as one of the following: “E” for eyes, “L” for lameness, or “X” for mental disability. Others were suspected of having diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, or fevus ( a scalp and nail fungus). These people were sent to thesecond floor to undergo another round of medical exams by U.S. Public Health Officials. Their stay as a detainee in quarantine could last for days or sometimes weeks. The medical building contained 275 hospital beds, contagious disease wards, x-ray facilities, laboratories, and a morgue. Between 1900 and d1954, there were 355 births and 3,500 deaths recorded at Ellis Island.
After passing the medical examination, immigrants were sent to wait in lines to answer the remaining questions to be asked by the inspectors. It usually took inspectors approximately 2 minutes to decide whether or not to admit an immigrant entry into the United States. Inspectors had the right to ask why the people were immigrating and could deport or detain them on that matter alone. They were also aware of alerts of criminals wanted in other countries, as well as suspicion of contract laborers. It was very important for inspectors to not let anyone who would be a threat or burden to society through Ellis Island doors. Some immigrants, who were without the correct amount of money required for entry, had to wait until a relative could come to give them the funds. Although the entire process included dozens of tests, questionnaires, examinations, and interviews, the average stay for an immigrant on Ellis Island was no longer than 5 days.
All the information on this page was accumulated from the following web sites:
http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Eihist.html
http://brownvboard.org/brwnqurt/04-1/04-1a.htm
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/index.htm
http://www.history.com/minisites/ellisisland/
http://www.oah.org/pubs/magazine/gilded/koman.html