Existing comment:
About 10% of the persons arriving at Ellis Island were held for a legal hearing. Those thought "likely to become public charges," or suspected of being contract laborers or worse, received yellow cards marked "S.I.," which meant that their cases would be decided by a Board of Special Inquiry. Three boards were usually in session all day, and during busy seasons a fourth board was added. Each board held 50 to 100 hearings daily in the presence of an interpreter and a stenographer. ... |