Most Americans are very familiar with Ellis Island, which served the purpose for decades as the immigration point for Europeans to enter into the United States. In fact, we read at history.com, that “More than 12 million immigrants…” passed through Ellis Island on their way to mainland America, having thus successfully obtained their citizenship. Of course, in America, there is also the west coast, and on the west coast, an immigration island was eventually also set up, known as Angel island, which is located in close proximity to San Francisco. The immigration process for those thus arriving on the west coast that were Caucasian, typically didn’t even necessitate a stop at Angel Island, but rather they were usually able to disembark directly at San Francisco and to thus obtain citizenship, there. On the other hand, for those that were Asian, they were compelled to stay aboard and to eventually disembark on Angel Island, instead; in which, their ability to successfully immigrate into the United States, was something that could take an extended period of time, of weeks, months, or would not ever occur, at all.
The problem that Asians had to deal with, was something that Europeans so immigrating to America, did not have to deal with – which is that the government of the United States had sought fit to pass the Chinese Exclusion Act which thereby precluded those of Asian background from legally entering the United States, unless they were highly educated and thereby in a profession that was considered to be of material benefit to the United States, or if they were able to convince the United States immigration authorities that they were children of Asians that were currently citizens of the United States. Not too surprisingly, for those having taken the journey to get to America, Asians were quite adept at being able to convince immigration authorities in America, that they were, in fact, children of American citizens, by having memorized names, addresses, and professions of those that were legal citizens of America, in order to, if necessary, game the system and thereupon gain for themselves, legal entry and citizenship.
Indeed, the experience of immigration on the west coast, was materially different than the east coast, simply because those so coming to America from the west, had a very strong makeup of those that were primarily of Asian heritage as compared to there being almost exclusively Caucasian heritage for those disembarking on Ellis island. Yet, the thing that makes Americans out of any race, creed, or color is the pluck and determination of those so trying to immigrate to America. That is to say, once a decision has been made to come to America, those people having made that decision, are going to go through whatever that they have to go through, in order to reach that promise land; because in their minds, America so represents for them, the land of liberty and opportunity, of which, they will not quit, until they reach their destination of choice. So, though, Angel Island, processed considerably fewer immigrants through its island, it has to be noted that they did so process through a significant amount of Asians, of at least 200,000 peoples and probably well more, at a time, in which, Asians were not typically overtly welcomed, in America, and thereby were subsequently treated as second-class citizens or less, but that did not stop those Asians, from subsequently giving forth their best, once they so arrived upon this mainland.