Ellis Island is a small island in New York Harbor that can be visited by boarding a ferry in Battery Park City. The ferry also sails to the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Park.

Ellis Island was the port of entry for millions of immigrants from all over the world, where the American authorities would verify their identity and any health conditions prior to entering the country.

Beginning in 1917, and again with the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, tighter immigration rules were established in an effort to decrease access into United States.

However, it is estimated that only 2% of the immigrants were sent back to their country of origin, boarding the same ship on which they had arrived.