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Ellis and Angel Islands were Immigration Inspection Stations. All passengers arriving by boat (except First Class Passengers and US Citizens) were inspected there to be sure they were free of communicable diseases, they had a minimum amount of money and were employable or were traveling with an employable person, were not traveling on a ticket paid for by an employer in America, and were not likely to become involved in immoral activities, etc.

This was before immigration visas were required, so anyone with a ticket could get on a boat and come to America.

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13y ago

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