Turned Away

By the time of Ong’s arrival, Chinese immigrants had a long history in the U.S. The first big wave of immigrants from China began to arrive during the California Gold Rush of the 1840s. Many went on to work in the gold mines, start their own businesses, or labor on farms.

But Chinese immigrants often faced racism and were barred from many jobs. With limited options, up to 20,000 Chinese people took on the grueling, dangerous work of building the transcontinental railroad, which in 1869 linked America’s east and west coasts for the first time.

If not for Chinese immigrants, historians say, the railroad might not have gotten built. Yet Chinese railroad workers were paid 30 to 50 percent less than white workers—about $1 per day (the equivalent of about $19 in today’s money). And unlike other workers, they had to pay for their own food and housing.

Anti-Chinese sentiment grew in the 1870s, when the U.S. experienced an economic collapse and jobs became scarce. Many white people found a scapegoat in Chinese workers, who were typically paid lower wages, even though Chinese immigrants made up only a small portion of the U.S. population.

By the time of Ong’s arrival, Chinese immigrants had a long history in the U.S. The first big wave of immigrants from China began to arrive during the California Gold Rush of the 1840s. Many went on to work in the gold mines, start their own businesses, or labor on farms.

But Chinese immigrants often faced racism and weren‘t allowed to have many jobs. With limited options, up to 20,000 Chinese people took on the grueling, dangerous work of building the transcontinental railroad. In 1869, this railroad linked America’s east and west coasts for the first time.

Historians say that the railroad might not have gotten built without Chinese immigrants. Yet Chinese railroad workers only got paid about $1 per day (about $19 in today’s money). Their pay was 30 to 50 percent less than white workers’ pay. And unlike other workers, they had to pay for their own food and housing.

Anti-Chinese sentiment grew in the 1870s. During that decade, the U.S. experienced an economic collapse and jobs became scarce. Many white people found a scapegoat in Chinese workers, who were typically paid lower wages. And this was even though Chinese immigrants made up only a small portion of the U.S. population.

Amid those rising tensions, violence against people of Chinese descent surged. In 1885, for example, white coal miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming, killed 28 Chinese miners, injured 15 others, and burned down nearly 80 Chinese homes.

In response to pressure from political and labor leaders, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. It banned nearly all Chinese immigrants from entering the country and was the first U.S. law to restrict immigration on the basis of nationality or race.

Angel Island opened in 1910 to enforce this law, as well as subsequent acts that banned immigrants from other Asian countries. There’s no way to know how many Chinese and other Asians never made the trip because they faced exclusion. Still, about 175,000 Chinese people landed on the island over the next 30 years, hoping to gain admittance despite the metaphorical “Not Welcome” sign plastered on U.S. shores. The despair at the knowledge that the U.S. was denying them entry based on their nationality led many Chinese people to try to gain admittance using forged documents stating they were U.S. citizens or the children of citizens. Ong’s father appears to have entered the U.S. this way.

Immigrants from Japan, India, Russia, and nearly 80 other nations arrived at Angel Island as well. About 20 percent would be rejected (compared with about 2 percent of immigrants at Ellis Island). Chinese immigrants who docked at Angel Island now found themselves so close to America yet still so far away.

During this period of rising tensions, violence against people of Chinese descent surged. In 1885, for example, white coal miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming, killed 28 Chinese miners, injured 15 others, and burned down nearly 80 Chinese homes.

In response to pressure from political and labor leaders, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. It banned nearly all Chinese immigrants from entering the country. It was the first U.S. law to restrict immigration on the basis of nationality or race.

Angel Island opened in 1910 to enforce this law, as well as later acts that banned immigrants from other Asian countries. There’s no way to know how many Chinese and other Asians never made the trip because they faced exclusion. Still, about 175,000 Chinese people landed on the island over the next 30 years. They hoped to gain entry despite the metaphorical “Not Welcome” sign plastered on U.S. shores. The despair at the knowledge that the U.S. was denying them entry based on their nationality led many Chinese people to try to enter using forged documents stating they were U.S. citizens or the children of citizens. Ong’s father appears to have entered the U.S. this way.

Immigrants from Japan, India, Russia, and nearly 80 other nations arrived at Angel Island as well. About 20 percent would be rejected. That‘s compared with about 2 percent of immigrants at Ellis Island. Chinese immigrants who docked at Angel Island now found themselves so close to America yet still so far away.

Ong’s experience on Angel Island was typical for Chinese immigrants, whether they had real or forged papers. After arriving, he was taken to the infirmary, where he was forced to strip down and given an extensive medical examination. He was then assigned to stay in a cramped room filled with rows of triple bunk beds. The barracks were segregated by nationality and sex, and because Ong had arrived without a parent, he had to live with adults he’d never met. Before he could be released, Ong would have to answer questions correctly to prove that he actually was his father’s son.

But there was no telling when he’d be called. Some Chinese immigrants were held on the island for more than a year.

“It became a prison,” Ong says.

After nearly six months, Ong was finally interviewed. He had studied day after day, but the questions were purposefully difficult, especially for a child. What direction did his house in China face? How many steps led to his front door? What were the ages of his neighbors?

Ong’s father was brought in for questioning too, and if their answers didn’t match, the immigration agents would conclude that they weren’t actually related. Ong couldn’t answer many of the questions because he’d met his father only three times. Ong failed the test and was deported.

“It was one of the worst moments of my life,” he recalls. “I felt I had failed my family, and it was the end of my journey.”

Ong’s experience on Angel Island was typical for Chinese immigrants. Things were difficult whether they had real or forged papers. After arriving, he was taken to the infirmary. Once there, he was forced to strip down and given an extensive medical examination. He was then assigned to stay in a cramped room filled with rows of triple bunk beds. The barracks were segregated by nationality and sex. Ong had arrived without a parent, so he had to live with adults he’d never met. Before he could be released, Ong would have to answer questions correctly to prove that he actually was his father’s son.

But there was no telling when he’d be called. Some Chinese immigrants were held on the island for more than a year.

“It became a prison,” Ong says.

After nearly six months, Ong was finally interviewed. He had studied day after day. But the questions were purposefully difficult, especially for a child. What direction did his house in China face? How many steps led to his front door? What were the ages of his neighbors?

Ong’s father was brought in for questioning too. If their answers didn’t match, the immigration agents would decide that they weren’t actually related. Ong couldn’t answer many of the questions because he’d met his father only three times. Ong failed the test and was deported.

“It was one of the worst moments of my life,” he recalls. “I felt I had failed my family, and it was the end of my journey.”

But Ong would get a second chance, 12 years later. The Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed in 1943, after Japan had invaded China and China became a U.S. ally in World War II (1939-45). However, immigration from China would still be limited to 105 people a year until 1965.

In 1949, the Communist revolution in China led to Chairman Mao Zedong’s takeover of the country. That year, Ong tried once again to come to the U.S.

Angel Island had ceased operating as an immigration station in 1940, after a fire destroyed the administration building. So this time, Ong was held in another immigration center in San Francisco. After being detained there for six months, he was allowed to go live with his father.

In 1951, Ong became a U.S. citizen and was later joined by his mother and brother. He went on to serve with the U.S. Army in the Korean War (1950-53), own a business, and raise a family. One of the few immigrants alive today who passed through Angel Island, he says he would do it all over again.

“Even with all the hardships, it was worth it,” Ong says. “I sincerely love America.”

As for Angel Island, the barracks were used during World War II as a detention center for Americans of Japanese descent, who were racially profiled as a threat to the U.S. without evidence. The detainees, along with tens of thousands of other Japanese Americans, were later imprisoned in internment camps throughout the U.S. on the unfounded suspicion that they might threaten the U.S. war effort against Japan.

But Ong would get a second chance, 12 years later. The Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed in 1943. This happened after Japan had invaded China and China became a U.S. ally in World War II (1939-45). But immigration from China would still be limited to 105 people a year until 1965.

In 1949, the Communist revolution in China led to Chairman Mao Zedong’s takeover of the country. That year, Ong tried once again to come to the U.S.

Angel Island had stopped operating as an immigration station in 1940. That‘s because a fire destroyed the administration building that year. So this time, Ong was held in another immigration center in San Francisco. After being detained there for six months, he was allowed to go live with his father.

In 1951, Ong became a U.S. citizen and was later joined by his mother and brother. He went on to serve with the U.S. Army in the Korean War (1950-53), own a business, and raise a family. One of the few immigrants alive today who passed through Angel Island, he says he would do it all over again.

“Even with all the hardships, it was worth it,” Ong says. “I sincerely love America.”

As for Angel Island, the barracks were used during World War II as a detention center for Americans of Japanese descent. These detainees were racially profiled as a threat to the U.S. without evidence. They, along with tens of thousands of other Japanese Americans, were later imprisoned in internment camps throughout the U.S. This was based on the unconfirmed suspicion that they might threaten the U.S. war effort against Japan.

After the war, the Angel Island site fell into disrepair and was almost torn down. But in 1970, a California state park ranger discovered poems that had been inscribed on the walls by Chinese immigrants, describing their journeys to the U.S. and their detention. The discovery spurred an effort by activists and community groups to preserve the center. In 1997, the site was designated a National Historical Landmark and opened as a museum where visitors can tour the restored detention barracks.

Today people of Asian descent make up about 7 percent of the U.S. population, and Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S. But the spike in hate crimes during the pandemic has put a spotlight on the bigotry that the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities continue to face.

Tepporn of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation says Angel Island reminds us that the recent attacks are part of a larger pattern of anti-Asian sentiment dating back to when the first large wave of immigrants from China began arriving in the U.S. in the 1800s.

“There’s a long history of xenophobia toward Asians and other immigrants that has unfortunately been part of our U.S. history,” he says. “And when we forget to learn from history, we’re unfortunately doomed to repeat it.”

After the war, the Angel Island site fell into disrepair and was almost torn down. But in 1970, a California state park ranger discovered poems that had been written on the walls by Chinese immigrants. The poems described their journeys to the U.S. and their detention. The discovery sparked an effort by activists and community groups to preserve the center. In 1997, the site was designated a National Historical Landmark. It then became a museum where visitors can tour the restored detention barracks.

Today people of Asian descent make up about 7 percent of the U.S. population. Asian Americans are also the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S. But the spike in hate crimes during the pandemic has put a spotlight on the bigotry that the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities continue to face.

Tepporn of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation says Angel Island reminds us that the recent attacks are part of a larger pattern of anti-Asian sentiment. It dates back to when the first large wave of immigrants from China began arriving in the U.S. in the 1800s.

“There’s a long history of xenophobia toward Asians and other immigrants that has unfortunately been part of our U.S. history,” he says. “And when we forget to learn from history, we’re unfortunately doomed to repeat it.”