Incredible Photos Of Immigrants Arriving At Ellis Island

Changes In Attitude

While most immigrants were able to leave Ellis Island within hours some were stuck there for days or even weeks before they were approved to stay or were deported. Fortunately, the immigrants were given free meals when they arrived. Many tried new food for the first time, such as bananas and ice cream.

During World War I, attitudes about foreigners turned increasingly negative, effectively ending the mass immigration to the United States. The island was later turned into a detention and deportation station. During World War II, officials detained German, Italian, and Japanese resident aliens on Ellis Island.