Opened in 1910, Chinese immigrants trying to enter the United States first passed through Angel Island in California. Serving more as a deportation and detention center than an immigration processing center, thousands of Chinese were detained and interrogated in a prison-like atmosphere for weeks, months or years. Life for the detainees was stressful, demoralizing, and humiliating. Separated from family members, they were placed in crowded communal living quarters. Between 1910 and 1940, as many as 175,000 immigrants were detained.
Every time a big steamer tooted into the harbor, carrying back fellow villagers with their loaded suitcases, we couldn't help but watch with envy the wealth they brought back, the power that could be impressed by their stories of life in the Gold Mountain, which kindled in me the desire to go overseas at a young age."
-Jann Mon Fang, Chinese immigrant
When the interrogations ended, the applicant went back to the detention barracks to await the verdict. If a guard came in, called out a person's name, and shouted in Chinese 'Good Fortune!' or 'Go Ashore!', it meant that the immigrant had passed and was free to enter the country. But if a person was to be deported, the guard would call his name, then silently make motions as if he were crying."
-Excerpt of Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain, Russell Freedman, 2013
Lists of Chinese Applying for Admission to the United States through the Port of San Francisco, California, compiled 07/07/1903-01/07/1947; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1476, 27 rolls. ARC Identifier 4482916); Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Record Group 85; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
'After two weeks, I was called in for an interrogation,' an immigrant recalled.'I waited a long while downstairs before it was my turn.' When the time came, the detainee was led into a large room and asked to take a seat. Waiting for him were two or three inspectors, who asked questions; an interpreter; and a stenographer, who typed a word-by-word record of the hearing. After the immigrant was sent back to the detention barracks, the inspectors decided whether he or she would be allowed to enter the United States or deported."
- Excerpt from Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain, Russell Freedman, 2013
There are tens of thousands of poems on these walls Four days before the Festival of Reunion, |
It was very dark — a late November night. The first thing I remember was the pier. I stepped down, and we walked on the pier. And then we were taken to the main administration building and we were escorted to the main women's barracks. The women's barracks were part of the main administration building. The barracks was a fairly good-sized, rectangular, dark building. I noticed immediately that the windows and doors were barred. I also noticed that there were hanging light bulbs from the ceiling. Bare light bulbs. "
-Li Keng Wong, Author and Chinese Immigrant