This year in class, we talked about the notion spaces and exchanges that deals with the geographical and symbolic areas that all societies occupy and the interactions between them. We illustrated these ideas with the example of the US which has admitted more than 50 million newcomers, a larger number than in any other country in History. Most people came, and still come today for wealth, land and freedom. The immigrants faced many hardships during this period, but was it worth it? We’ll see how the arrival in America can be the gateway to success but also a symbol of chaos and suffering.

I. The arrival in America: the gateway to success…

Mainly since the 19th century, new immigrants came from all corners of the world, for a lot of reasons such as: the industrial revolution, unemployment, the potato famine (Ireland), poverty, conflicts (Korea & Hungary), or the pogroms in Russia. In fact, they were all going first to New York harbor. After a quick exam, the wealthiest were quickly accepted as new American citizens because they had money to take care of themselves, so they wouldn’t become a public charge. The others were taken to Ellis Island where 5.000 passengers arrived each day: that was their last hope. This is the case of Jacob, who left Russia because of the pogroms: sent back, he would be killed. Fortunately, he was accepted. But some immigrants didn’t pass through immigration stations – they arrived illegally. Such as for example Ana and another former immigrant. Ana trudged across the border to arrive in America, where she climbed through the ranks from a laundry woman, to a maid and to a success broker for illegal cleaning women. She earns an excellent living, but now she cannot return home: she left her family behind her, and they regret her departure. Concerning the former immigrant, he arrived in America with only $63 dollars in his pocket. He began to work with the same hands that now touch the human brain in one of the world’s most prestigious institutes: he’s now a world-known specialist. All these waves of immigration led to the growth of a nation, which became a symbol of welcome. The most significant example can only be Emma Lazarus’s poem “The New Colossus”, engraved on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. It begins with “Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” and so on.

Transition By leaving their country to go to America, lots of immigrants reached success or simply a better life. But it didn’t go the same way for everyone: in reality, this “dream” was both a symbol of hope and a symbol of chaos and suffering.

II. … but also a symbol of chaos and suffering

The arrival at Ellis Island, after a stormy crossing of the Atlantic crammed together, was not a piece of cake. First, the immigrants had a medical exam focusing on their digits, eyes (the most feared part), hair, limbs and skin. In case of any health problem (mental or physical), a letter was written on their lapel and they were taken to cages to wait for a doctor and for a full exam. Then, they had to pass through the legal examination: for 2 minutes, 29 questions (such as their name, original country, money… etc) were asked by a legal inspector accompanied by a translator. If their answers were not adequate, they were sent to the board of Special Inquiry. Then, they risked being sent home, and some of them were. (The majority passed through without any problems) But immigrants also arrived in the immigration on the west coast on Angel Island where Asian people arrived, harsh conditions were also awaiting them, including hours, days, months or even years of waiting. The Chinese poems carved on the walls reflect the suffering and despair experienced. They all talk about sadness, loneliness, sorrow, prison: the people were left out, and they were afraid of being sent back (like Jacob), for all the reasons mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, some of them had to go back to their country but luckily others were accepted. But as I said, if immigration was legal, some also entered and still enter the country illegally (as did Ana and the brain surgeon I talked about). We can mention Arizona, which is America’s new border flashpoint. No State has more arrests for illegal immigration, or more crossing deaths or political battles over this. There’s even a group of US citizens called “The Minutemen” conducting a patrol of this border. However, some people managed to cross the border. Tony Lincoln was one of them. His father came a little bit before to get money and pay for the crossing of his family, but one day he got in trouble and he was deported by the authorities. He will never see his father again, and he doesn’t have the rights he should have because of his status. But he is not the only one: these immigrants share a similar story, and today the families torn apart are countless. In spite of this, “America was and is the immigrant’s dream”, as the American novelist Don DeLillo said.

To conclude, we have seen that a lot of immigrants got a better and successful life, while others were rejected, oppressed or killed. From my point of view, America is indebted to immigration for her prosperity. The America that encouraged immigration profited from it and advanced rapidly in population, culture and arts. And it has changed so many lives, despite all the families who have been torn apart. Everything has a price, after all. So honestly, I think the immigrants hardships were worth it.