Turned Away

You might have heard about Ellis Island, the immigration station in New York Harbor. From 1892 to 1954, more than 12 million immigrants—most of them from Europe—entered the U.S. through Ellis Island. It still stands today, along with the Statue of Liberty nearby, as a symbol of the important role immigration has played in American history. 

Angel Island, located on the other side of the country, symbolizes a darker part of that history. Edward Tepporn, the executive director of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, says it’s important to understand this story too.

“What Angel Island reminds us is that the U.S. has not always been completely welcoming of immigrants,” says Tepporn, “and has taken active effort to exclude certain immigrant groups.” 

You might have heard about Ellis Island, the immigration station in New York Harbor. From 1892 to 1954, more than 12 million immigrants entered the U.S. through Ellis Island. Most were from Europe. Ellis Island still stands today. Along with the Statue of Liberty nearby, it is a symbol of the important role immigration has played in American history.

Angel Island is on the other side of the country. It symbolizes a darker part of that history. Edward Tepporn says it is important to understand this story too. He is the executive director of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation.

“What Angel Island reminds us is that the U.S. has not always been completely welcoming of immigrants,” says Tepporn, “and has taken active effort to exclude certain immigrant groups.”

By the time of Ong’s arrival, Chinese immigrants had a long history in the U.S. The first big wave of newcomers from China began to arrive during the California Gold Rush of the 1840s, when gold was found in that state. Many of these immigrants worked in the gold mines, started their own businesses, or labored on farms. 

In the decades to follow, up to 20,000 Chinese people took on the grueling, dangerous work of building the transcontinental railroad. In 1869, that railroad linked America’s East Coast and West Coast for the first time. 

If not for immigrants from China, historians say, the railroad might not have been built. Yet Chinese railroad workers often faced discrimination. They were paid 30 to 50 percent less than White workers—only about $1 per day (the equivalent of about $19 in today’s money). And unlike other workers, they had to pay for their own food and housing. 

By the time Ong arrived, Chinese immigrants had a long history in the U.S. The first big wave of newcomers from China began to arrive during the California Gold Rush of the 1840s. That was when gold was found there. Many of those immigrants worked in the gold mines, started their own businesses, or labored on farms.

In the decades to follow, up to 20,000 Chinese people did the grueling, dangerous work of building the transcontinental railroad. In 1869, that railroad linked America’s East Coast and West Coast for the first time.

If not for immigrants from China, historians say, the railroad might not have been built. Yet Chinese railroad workers often faced discrimination. They were paid 30 to 50 percent less than White workers. They made only about $1 per day. (That would equal about $19 a day in today’s money.) And unlike other workers, they had to pay for their own food and housing.

Then, in the 1870s, the U.S. economy collapsed and jobs became scarce. Many White people blamed Chinese workers, claiming that they were taking all the jobs, even though they were only a small portion of the U.S. population.

In response to pressure from political and labor leaders, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. It banned nearly all Chinese immigrants from entering the country and was the first U.S. law to restrict immigration on the basis of a person’s race or country of origin. 

Angel Island opened in 1910 to enforce this law, as well as later acts that banned immigrants from most other Asian countries. 

Still, about 175,000 Chinese people landed on Angel Island over the next 30 years, hoping to gain entry to the U.S. People from Japan, India, Russia, and nearly 80 other nations did too. About one in five of them were turned away. Ong was one of them.

Then, in the 1870s, the U.S. economy collapsed. Jobs became scarce. Many White people blamed Chinese workers. They said Chinese were taking all the jobs, even though they were only a small portion of the U.S. population.

In response to pressure from political and labor leaders, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. That law banned nearly all Chinese immigrants from entering the country. It was the first U.S. law to restrict immigration on the basis of a person’s race or country of origin.

Angel Island opened in 1910 to enforce this law, as well as later acts that banned immigrants from most other Asian countries.

Still, about 175,000 Chinese people landed on Angel Island over the next 30 years, hoping to gain entry to the U.S. People from Japan, India, Russia, and nearly 80 other nations did too. About one in five of them were turned away. Ong was one of them.

Over time, the Angel Island site fell into disrepair and was almost torn down. But in 1970, a California state park ranger discovered poems that had been inscribed on the walls by immigrants, describing their journeys to the U.S.—and their detention (see "Voices From Angel Island," below). The finding spurred an effort by activists and community groups to preserve the center. In 1997, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark and opened as a museum.

Today, people of Asian descent make up about 7 percent of the U.S. population and are the nation’s fastest-growing racial or ethnic group. But Asian Americans continue to face discrimination in this country. 

Over time, the Angel Island site fell into disrepair. It was almost torn down. But in 1970, a California state park ranger discovered poems written on the walls by immigrants. The poems described their journeys to the U.S. and their detention (see "Voices From Angel Island," below). The finding spurred an effort by activists and community groups to preserve the center. In 1997, the site was named a National Historic Landmark. It opened as a museum.

Today, people of Asian descent make up about 7 percent of the U.S. population. They are the nation’s fastest-growing racial or ethnic group. But Asian Americans continue to face discrimination in this country.

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, there have been increased reports of attacks against members of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, including incidents of verbal harassment and physical violence. Experts say the attacks are being fueled in part by false claims blaming Covid-19 on people of Asian descent—even though a person’s race has nothing to do with how the disease spreads (see “Taking a Stand for Tolerance”). 

Tepporn of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation says Angel Island reminds us that such attacks are part of a larger pattern of anti-Asian racism in this country, dating back to the mid-1800s.

“There’s a long history of xenophobia toward Asians and other immigrants that has unfortunately been part of our U.S. history,” he says. “And when we forget to learn from history, we’re unfortunately doomed to repeat it.” 

For example, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been increased reports of attacks against members of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. That includes incidents of verbal harassment and physical violence. Experts say the attacks are being fueled in part by false claims blaming Covid-19 on people of Asian descent. However, a person’s race has nothing to do with how the disease spreads (see “Taking a Stand for Tolerance”).

Tepporn of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation says Angel Island reminds us that such attacks are part of a larger pattern of anti-Asian racism in this country. It dates back to the mid-1800s.

“There’s a long history of xenophobia toward Asians and other immigrants that has unfortunately been part of our U.S. history,” he says. “And when we forget to learn from history, we’re unfortunately doomed to repeat it.”