Registry Room
Those who passed the medical inspection proceeded on to the immigration service officials to be questioned and registered (Yew, 1980). Those officials conducted a legal inspection, questioning each immigrant to confirm the information declared on the ship’s manifest and establish that the person was entering the country for a legitimate reason, was of proper moral character, and was unlikely to become a ward of the state, or a “violent revolutionary” (Yans-McLaughlin & Lightman, 1997, p. 68).
Anyone who received a chalk mark from the medical officers was subjected to a closer general inspection which was not confined to the potential issue identified on the line (Baynton, 2005; Yew, 1980). Therefore, people who were visibly different, or of an ethnic appearance unusual to the inspectors were more likely to be identified for closer scrutiny and more likely to have other problems discovered which could exclude them from entry (Baynton, 2005). Anyone exhibiting obvious symptoms of illness also would be ushered to a separate examination room for a more thorough medical exam (Yans-McLaughlin & Lightman, 1997). Those who passed the additional scrutiny would be returned to the line, while those who did not pass would be detained in the hospital or dormitories until they could be cured or have their cases otherwise decided (Yans-McLaughlin & Lightman, 1997). Such detentions rarely lasted more than two weeks, during which time the detainees were housed, fed and provided medical attention if needed at no cost to them (Benton, 1985). Sometimes an immigrant detained due to a failed medical inspection needed only a few days rest after their journey or a few good meals to be passed through inspection, while some could recover from minor illness or injury during a short stay in the Ellis Island hospital before being released (Birn, 1997; Kraut, 1988; Yans-McLaughlin & Lightman, 1997; Yew, 1980).
Anyone who received a chalk mark from the medical officers was subjected to a closer general inspection which was not confined to the potential issue identified on the line (Baynton, 2005; Yew, 1980). Therefore, people who were visibly different, or of an ethnic appearance unusual to the inspectors were more likely to be identified for closer scrutiny and more likely to have other problems discovered which could exclude them from entry (Baynton, 2005). Anyone exhibiting obvious symptoms of illness also would be ushered to a separate examination room for a more thorough medical exam (Yans-McLaughlin & Lightman, 1997). Those who passed the additional scrutiny would be returned to the line, while those who did not pass would be detained in the hospital or dormitories until they could be cured or have their cases otherwise decided (Yans-McLaughlin & Lightman, 1997). Such detentions rarely lasted more than two weeks, during which time the detainees were housed, fed and provided medical attention if needed at no cost to them (Benton, 1985). Sometimes an immigrant detained due to a failed medical inspection needed only a few days rest after their journey or a few good meals to be passed through inspection, while some could recover from minor illness or injury during a short stay in the Ellis Island hospital before being released (Birn, 1997; Kraut, 1988; Yans-McLaughlin & Lightman, 1997; Yew, 1980).
Immigration Hospital at Ellis Island
If a condition warranting expulsion was identified during the medical inspection, the immigrant would be issued a medical certificate detailing the defect or disease found (Moreno, 2004). The certificate provided the diagnosis or results of the detailed medical inspection, but did not recommend admission or expulsion; that decision was left to the immigration inspector (Moreno, 2004).
Immigrants who received a medical certificate automatically became cases for review by the Board of Special Inquiry (Yew, 1980). This Board was comprised of three non-physician immigration officials appointed by the Commissioner of Immigration who evaluated evidence and decided whether or not to uphold the debarment (Birn, 1997; Yew, 1980). Most immigrants certified by the doctors on the line were subsequently admitted by the Board of Special Inquiry (Yew, 1980). Many medical officers found this system and the very real possibility of having their medical opinion ‘corrected’ by a board of laymen distasteful (Yew, 1980). If the rejected immigrant was not satisfied with the Board's determination a special appeal could be filed with the Board (Birn, 1997). These appeals were decided by the Commissioner General of Immigration who had the final word on the issue (Birn, 1997). Many appeals were pursued on behalf of immigrants by immigrant protection societies such as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which particularly advocated on behalf of Jewish immigrants (Birn, 1997).
Immigrants who received a medical certificate automatically became cases for review by the Board of Special Inquiry (Yew, 1980). This Board was comprised of three non-physician immigration officials appointed by the Commissioner of Immigration who evaluated evidence and decided whether or not to uphold the debarment (Birn, 1997; Yew, 1980). Most immigrants certified by the doctors on the line were subsequently admitted by the Board of Special Inquiry (Yew, 1980). Many medical officers found this system and the very real possibility of having their medical opinion ‘corrected’ by a board of laymen distasteful (Yew, 1980). If the rejected immigrant was not satisfied with the Board's determination a special appeal could be filed with the Board (Birn, 1997). These appeals were decided by the Commissioner General of Immigration who had the final word on the issue (Birn, 1997). Many appeals were pursued on behalf of immigrants by immigrant protection societies such as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which particularly advocated on behalf of Jewish immigrants (Birn, 1997).