Two Journeys to a New Country
1Elena Bianchi wrote about her family's journey in 1908. The Bianchis lived in southern Italy. For several years, their farm produced poor harvests, so earning enough money was difficult. Elena's uncle had moved to New York and wrote that he could help Elena's father find work. The family decided to immigrate, or move to a new country to live, in the United States.
2After a long ocean trip, the Bianchis reached New York Harbor. They went to Ellis Island, a federal immigration station that opened in 1892. In the Great Hall, they waited with many other newcomers. Officials asked questions about their names, ages, occupations, and destination. A doctor checked each person. People who needed more examination could be held for a longer time.
3Elena's family passed the inspections. They took a ferry to New York City, where Elena's uncle met them. The family still had work to do: they needed to learn new customs, find a home, and build a life in a busy city. Ellis Island closed in 1954.
4People immigrate to the United States today for different reasons. Some move to join family members, look for work, study, or find safety. For example, Amina's family moved from Morocco to the United States in 2022 to join her mother, who already lived here. They arrived by airplane. At an airport, officials checked their passports and immigration documents. The family then looked for housing and learned how school and daily life worked in their new community.
5The two families arrived in different times and places. The Bianchis waited at Ellis Island and spoke with inspectors there. Amina's family went through an airport. Yet both families had connections to relatives, had to complete an arrival process, and had to adjust to life in a new country.