It was far easier to process immigrants back in 1892. Restrictions were fewer and easier to assess. Immigrants had places to go when they got here. There must have been cheap lodgings in the city supplied by entrepreneurs while people got on their feet. There must have been people who steered and transported people to such places, for a fee. People need food and sanitation facilities quickly.
A lot more information is out there about immigration to America over the years. Did you know that between 1900 and 1910 nearly all immigrants through Ellis Island were preceded by family and friends? “The practice of one member of a family going to America first and then saving to bring the others over was common. From 1900 to 1910, almost 95 percent of the immigrants arriving at Ellis Island were joining either family or friends.” The link contains further information about the process.
At the risk of making an apples and oranges comparison, note that Ellis Island on its first day processed 700 people: “The original immigration station on Ellis Island opened January 1, 1892, and processed 700 people that first day.”
The average became about 5,000 a day. The record amount is 11,747 people: “It took more than 11,000 people — 11,747 to be precise — to set the record. That was how many individuals went through immigration at Ellis Island in New York on April 17, 1907, precisely 110 years ago. That day would be the busiest ever in the history of the famous immigration center, which processed an estimated 5,000 on an average day, according to the New-York Historical Society.”
In those days, there had to be a throughput system to handle these numbers, and it had to be a free market system, I would guess. Not everyone would have had friends and relatives to welcome them. I cannot imagine government taking the responsibility or doing this efficiently. I can imagine many private charity and aid societies in operation. Actually, only about 5% of those entering were not meeting family or friends.
Compare the San Diego situation in which the U.S. government is unable to process more than 300 people: “Shortly before the migrants were expected to arrive, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said San Diego’s San Ysidro crossing would not immediately be able to handle more asylum seekers. It can hold about 300 people at a time, and officials had been warning that it might fill up.”
If an asylum application is granted, the person can seek government help. The range of it is astonishing: food stamps, cash, employment guidance and medical. It can last for 8-60 months.
The private sector can’t really compete with such government largesse. This is not fair to taxpayers. It provides a bad incentive structure to new Americans. It creates welfare dependency. It encourages people to emigrate to America. The system of welfare is bound to be both costly and inefficient, employing many of us in unproductive jobs in which we check up on other people and process their benefits.
Government inefficiency rules in the case of asylum seekers as in everything else that government does:
“Overall, the asylum process can take years to conclude. In some cases, a person may file their application and receive a hearing or interview date years in the future.
“In 2016, the U.S. immigration court and asylum systems were backlogged with more than 620,000 pending.”
11:01 am on April 30, 2018
