The Great Jewish Migration – 1881-1914: Ports on Entry to the United States (F)

Emigrant Preparation and American Ports of Entry

Arthur L. Finkle

Castle Garden, NY - up to 1892

Until 1890, each state had jurisdiction over admitting immigrants.  Ports of entry were five main cities:

New York Castle Island served as the port for New York City 1830-1892; thereafter Ellis Island served port of entry (1892- 1954); Boston (customs passenger lists through 1899); Boston (customs passenger lists through 1899); Philadelphia (customs passenger lists through 1899); Baltimore (customs passenger lists through 1891); and New Orleans.  through 1902)

Ellis Island, NY

Approximately, 40 percent of all current U.S. citizens can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island.

There were also several minor ports, e.g. Mobile, Al., Bath, Me., and Galveston, TX.

Shortly after the U.S. Civil War, some states started to pass their own immigration laws, which prompted the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in 1875 that immigration was a federal responsibility. Chy Lung v. Freeman (92 U.S. 275, 1875)

Philadelphia Port

However, the states continued to pass legislation on immigration entry. The Immigration Act of 1891, however, stopped all state incursions into immigration matters. Legislation authorized the Office of the Superintendent of Immigration (Treasury Department), responsible for processing immigrants.

Emigration Assistance – Hamburg, Germany

At the beginning of the 20th century the Hamburg Shipping Lines (Hapag) built an emigrant's "city" in Veddel, in the port area, as a refuge. It could accommodate 5,000 people awaiting departure of their ships. It included a kosher canteen and a synagogue.

In Russia’s larger Jewish communities, assistance agencies arose in response to the enormous emigration.

		Hamburg  Emigration  Station

Hamburg Emigration Station

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