While watching the documentary on Ellis Island, I couldn't help but feel sorry for all of the immigrants coming into America.  Considering most didn't speak or read English, they were shuffled through like cattle going through a chute. These people were checked for lice and other health problems, were given a number before boarding a ship, forced to pay 5 pounds per person, had to endure a grueling sea voyage, and then had to have their name changed when they arrived because neither they nor the processors could pronounce it to spell it.

     I do not understand why New York made the change their names so drastically.  Why couldn't the people working there work harder to spell out their names?  Also, why didn't the government work to help the incoming immigrants?  They needed help to start, and were just left to fend for themselves when they arrived. I also do not understand why the immigrants had to pay to come here.  If they had to pay back in the 1890's, why don't we make the immigrants pay today?  

     These immigrants faced many challenges.  One challenge was the voyage to America.  They were only fed one time a day and then they only received soup and a half a slice of bread.  Many were sea-sick, and didn't know where the toilets were. Their beds were crowded together in the bottom of the boat and it smelled of rotten food and puke; so those who had blankets stayed on the top.   Another challenge they faced was after they landed and walked into Ellis Island, they had a chance of being separated from their families due to illness. America wanted healthy immigrants, not the burden of unhealthy immigrants. These immigrants were also sent home for the slightest sign of a mental illnesses.  The biggest challenge these immigrants faced was coming up with the 5 pounds per person for the voyage. It took some families two to three years to save enough money to make the voyage to America.  After they paid, they were told where to go, but now these immigrants had to find money for the passage to their new land, plus food to get there.   

     I have a problem with migration right now.  I guess I feel that if you want to come to America, then you need to learn to speak English, you need to become a citizen, and be willing to work.  I do not think it is right that people are coming into this country illegally, and getting a free education, free health care, free food and a free living allowance.  This may hurt some of your feelings and I am sorry, but at my age, I believe there are too many Americans who need jobs that are going to immigrants because they will work for less money.  

But, on the other hand, Americans won't do the job of some of the immigrants, so who are you supposed to hire?  How about hiring the 'legal' immigrants to work, and making the 'illegal' immigrants go home?