Why Ellis Island Separated Families for Years

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Immigration is not a new phenomenon. Ellis Island has been the port of entry for many people coming to the US, and sometimes immigrants would be separated from their loved ones during the process. This separation could be for several reasons: some people were considered contagious, some had evidence of communicable diseases, and sometimes families were just separated for administrative purposes.
This video will show you what happened when families were split up and how it impacted those who lived through these difficult moments.
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IT’S HISTORY - Weekly tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.
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Scriptwriter - Imana Schoch,
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Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.

[@zach1810]

My wife and I visited Ellis Island and went on a super rare Hard Hat Tour. Got to travel through the side of the island that nobody gets to see. We got to photograph the morgue, doctors residence, rooms sick patience stayed in, and more. If anyone is interested in this I would highly suggest it. Its History, if you want some really cool photos for future videos, let me know.

[@samanthab1923]

So cool. I remember as a kid coming into the city from NJ you could see how run down & haunted looking the whole thing was.

[@irishamericanpinupdoll]

I love seeing that people were able to see the “behind the scenes” of the island. Before it was an imigrant stop, it was owned by my ancestor Samuel Ellis. My birth name was Ellis and many more on both sides of my family crossed to America from Europe.i have walked those grounds and they are a fascinating part of US history. Thank you for telling us about your tour!

[@kf7bws]

My grandfather born in Sweden in 1883 migrated to the USA through Elis Island in 1904. He learned English and became a US citizen and through the 19teens 20's and 30's was a missionary to China, Hong Kong and Canton. Meeting my grandmother a US born citizen from Washington state she was already a missionary to China. My father was born in Hong Kong in 1934. Grandmother died in China in 1939 and Granddad returned to the Pacific Northwest with his four children.

[@Dsellu]

Amazing great dive as always, I learnt so much! Thank you!

[@alfoncesmithe]

Brilliant, I have spent many years researching Manhattan New York going way back but this story I did not know, its a true sad story and very well told/reaserched I thank you

[@paulfromperth5713]

Since I started researching the family tree I have discovered many parts of the family moved to the USA in the 1700’s and 1800’s from the UK. I can’t imagine how scary it would have been for them.

[@freetolook3727]

My sister and I went there a few years ago. Our paternal grandfather's and grandmother's names are on one of the bronze plaques from when they came over on the banana boat in 1911.

[@ctntelevisionnetwork8738]

I waited for that. Nice!

[@ITSHISTORY]

More to come!

[@robertmcnally2220]

My grandfather was born in Italy in 1914. Came over to the US in 1922 and is in the Ellis island records

[@freetolook3727]

My father's parents came over on a coal collier in third class because that's all they could afford but they made it. My grandfather got a job on the D&H railroad in Howes Cave, NY.

[@samanthab1923]

I love the old RR. Do you have any Delaware & Hudson stuff?

[@freetolook3727]

All I have is a pinned id frame with an old photo of someone who no one in the family recognizes. It's about 1" x 1/2" metal frame and says D&H railroad on the photo. Other than that, my grandfather never thought of souvenirs and the railroad didn't take lightly of anyone taking any railroad property. I will say that my father told me of a story about my grandfather and the other brakemen who worked on the trains at the time. During the depression a lot of people were poor and heated with coal. While the train would pass the town, he would be up on the coal cars kicking coal off the train so the locals could pick it off the side of the tracks after the train passed by! 😂

[@BobbyHernandez]

From what I understand from Ellis Island statistics some 95% or more were allowed to stay in the US so I worry that the stats are misleading. Perhaps it was 2 for every 10 in a particular period of time or 2 for every 10 had to go through additional screening?

[@CatNibbles]

Just because they got to stay in the end doesn't mean they weren't separated before hand...

[@JacobAAllen]

My family came those there. I’m pretty sure they changed our last name and sent family home. Some ended up in South America as the story goes, but they have been lost to time. Granted it was a hundred years ago.

[@alexislaisney3404]

Did they sign with a kikel?

[@FlyinRaptorJesus]

We need the same standards of getting into the country right now... They let just anyone in now..

[@dustinwashburn1283]

Turned away because she was "simple minded". Sometimes I wonder how certain parameters are set, and if they consider that some people may not have had much sleep on a month long voyage in conditions that are at best, Contemptable.

[@Novusod]

They used phrenology. They just looked at the shape of the face and skull and labeled oddly shaped faces as "simple minded."

[@dustinwashburn1283]

@@Novusod They'd have a field day with the wide variety of head shapes we have today. In any case, this is why it's good to be at least a little skeptical of Science, or rather, the Scientists.

[@darkgalaxy5548]

Your description of steerage class sounds alot like flying Spirit Airlines.

[@byronhk4197]

What years was Ellis Island open? Only for steerage? Did 1st & 2nd class skip it entirely and if so, where would their entrance paperwork be found?

[@glencoppola813]

1st and 2nd would be checked on the boat.

[@8avexp]

It was open from 1892 to 1954, although in later years it served as a detention facility. The only reason an immigrant would have to go there was if their papers weren't in order. My parents came over in 1949 under the auspicies of the Displaced Persons Act, but they didn't have to go through Ellis Island. Once they got off the boat, they were good to go.

[@brendakrieger7000]

💔

[@zachc8190]

It doesnt seem like a lot of people nowadays but I wonder how many decendands now can trace their roots there. 10 million+ maybe?

[@0fficialdregs]

im only leaving a like and this message because this video is gonna to make depressed because thinking about the amount of people who loss their families or life because they were force to separate from their families.

[@mattt233]

My how times have changed. Now you can just walk on in and go about your business.

[@slicnic81]

No, it's too perilous.

[@tedlawrence4189]

My Grandfather took a rowboat from the UK all the way to Ellis Island.

[@mariamedlyak7451]

Тильки сьогодни дизналася що е такий остров розшукую прадида.збираюся приихати

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

As in todays struggles the USA is once again opening its borders to foreign persons who probably don't know what they're getting into once they come here it's a scary situation all the way around

[@BluetheRaccoon]

I'm glad Established Titles is planting trees, but the whole title thing is meaningless. Anyone can call themselves Lord or Lady here in the US as it's meaningless here.

[@ITSHISTORY]

Respectfully, but your wrong. I’m extremely proud of my status as a Lord and it means the world to me 😊

[@thirdmanonmars]

It’s meaningless everywhere, Scotland included. Shame it’s just another scam, would be cool if it was real.

[@TeddyBelcher4kultrawide]

Low rider

[@waggtech4883]

I’m holding out for when the Sir Lord Duke established title option is offered…

[@derryoneill9484]

@@ITSHISTORY I would look at that again. You don't own any land and even if you did it wouldn't afford you that title anyway. You have been had my friend!

[@davidglaum2538]

And look what we do today.

[@Infernal460]

Pragmatism.

[@Steviebuknowme]

Mhm-hummm nice vid….😒

[@trevorl4297]

First!

[@Thedecider1984]

now the border is wide open thanks to Joe.