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From:
Subject: Re: [CROATIA-L] Naturalizations - Accompaniment Not Required
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 07:04:25 EDT

In a message dated 4/3/00 10:45:51 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

<< either had to be accompanied by a
male or met by a male upon arrival. >>

This is simply NOT TRUE. The reasons why this is not true have already been
stated in a previous post, but . .. There has never been any rule,
regulation, requirement, or policy that women had to be in the company of a
male in order to arrive in the US, leave an immigration processing center,
and subsequently enter the US. The fact that in some cases, for certain
women, they were detained until a male escort arrived had to deal with their
specific circumstances, but these specific cases should not be falsely
interpreted as indicative of a general policy applicable to all females. Too
many of us have too much historical evidence which proves that women did not
require a male - especially at Ellis Island where I alone had 3 females who
were not accompanied by males, nor met by males who entered the US and
traveled alone to their final destinations between the years 1901 and 1911.
Others have posted similar examples here lately.

I have read/researched both articles and original documents relating to the
immigration experience at Ellis Island, and have never seen any general
requirement that a women be accompanied by a man. It simply was not the
case.

The best original source I have found (out of many that I have researched)
for learning the true facts about Ellis Island in particular is a 1937 book
written by Fiorello LaGuardia, who worked at Ellis Island as Asst. Comm. from
1907 to 1910, the same one who later became the famous mayor of New York
City.

Quote from The Changing Character of Immigration by Kate Holladay Claghorn
World's Work, Vol. 1, 1900-01 PLEASE NOTE THE DATE OF THIS PUBL.
"The girls and women who pass the gate alone are moral and industrious
peasants in the main—wives coming to husbands, sisters to brothers, or they
are making the venture on their own responsibility."

Note that even at the turn of the century, women arriving BY THEMSELVES was
an acknowledged class of persons!

From the Ellis Island Web site:
>>>>Liable to Become a Public Charge: Any Immigrant deemed "liable to become
a public charge"was denied entry to the United states. To Ellis Island
inspectors, this clause, which has been a cornerstone of immigration policy
since 1882, meant those who appeared unable to support themselves and,
therefore, likely to become a burden on society. Ellis Island inspectors
carefully weighed the prospects of new arrivals, especially those of women
and children intending to rejoin husbands and fathers in this country.>>> and

>>>During the peak years of immigration, detention on Ellis Island ran as
high as 20% for all immigrants inspected. A detainee's stay could last days
or even weeks. Many were women and children who were waiting for a relative
to come for them or for money to arrive.>>>

Note that the above does not say waiting for a male relative to arrive or
even that anyone had to arrive. As long as Immigration was satisfied that the
immigrant had a means of support so they would not end up a public charge or
were not sick (both of these conditions were required by law) they were free
to enter the US.

Two decent web sites for learning the facts of immigration policy and action
are at
http://www.i-channel.com/features/ellis/
http://members.tripod.com/~L_Alfano/immig.htm
but for more details historical books are recommended.

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