Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain by Russell Freedman, Clarion Books, Boston, 2013.
This
book starts with a historical preservation project. Alexander Weiss, a
California State Park Ranger was new to Treasure Island. He happened
upon the barracks of the immigration station on Angel Island. This was
not open to the public. He was astonished by the number of Chinese
calligraphy and poems left on the walls of this building. In this
calligraphy was a story, not always a very happy story.
The immigration station opened in 1910. Before this, immigration
issues were handled in San Francisco, but the need became to large.
Immigrants who were allowed ashore were accepted in San Francisco, while
those who were not were ferried to Angel Island. It was touted as a
clean and modern facility, but quickly it was overcrowded. Because of
Chinese Exclusion laws which had been passed, immigrants were not
allowed from China. This eventually was deemed constitutional, and
individuals were obligated to comply. Those who could still come were
family members of Chinese American Citizens.
As
a result, there was a considerable amount of interrogation and
manipulation which took place as part of this review process. This
included a medical exam, of people who were not use to American
medicine, and people dressed in white at funerals. It also included a
great deal of interrogation. Eventually this was general for all people
passing, but more for Asian people seeking to immigrate to the U.S.
The process could be lengthy, and sometimes people interred in what
seemed like prison for weeks and months. Often people were deported,
but they could appeal. The majority of those going through the station
were eventually allowed to pass.
The
station was active until 1940. At that time, a fire took the main
building and it was not rebuilt. Immigration services were moved to Los
Angeles.
They buildings preserved, have now become a National Historical Site with museum.
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