Between 1892 and 1954, around 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island to enter the United States, averaging nearly 200,000 admissions a year. Each person was registered, documented, and subjected to basic health checks. The immigrants came from diverse backgrounds—rich and poor, white and non-white—but they all entered legally.
Over time, this significant influx eventually decreased, and Ellis Island stopped operations about 71 years ago. This historical achievement starkly contrasts with the difficulties surrounding current immigration policies.
From 2021 to 2025, the exact number of migrants at the southern border remains unclear. Under former President Joe Biden and impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, federal immigration laws were fundamentally altered, seemingly inviting between 10 to 12 million foreign nationals to enter the country, undermining the rule of law.
Some individuals became aggressive at the mere sight of ICE agents trying to enforce regulations. Border Patrol workers often faced mockery, threats, and even violence from those crossing the border illegally. Officers faced a tricky dilemma: was it worse to deal with violent immigrants or risk retaliation from the Biden administration for trying to uphold the law?
The Biden administration has achieved something almost unprecedented. In just four years, it has taken in nearly as many illegal immigrants as those who entered legally through Ellis Island over several decades. However, today’s immigrants differ greatly from those of the past. We’re witnessing systemic violence aimed at ICE agents and chaotic scenes, where protesters burn the American flag—the flag of the country they wish to stay in—while displaying the flag of their home country, to which they seem unwilling to return.
Reflecting on the past, about three generations ago, a smaller yet wiser America effectively managed immigration at Ellis Island, admitting individuals in an orderly, legal fashion complete with health and background evaluations. Currently, we appear to be immersed in an experiment—or perhaps more accurately, a misstep—marked by our arrogance and resources. Today, around 53 million foreign-born residents populate the nation, an unprecedented figure.
Immigrants now account for nearly 16 percent of the entire population. In California, 27% of residents were not born in the U.S. We haven’t seen a situation where up to 10,000 foreign nationals could enter daily, often with scant concern regarding their backgrounds—be it health issues, criminal records, or ties to gangs.
Moreover, the Biden administration has made little effort to assimilate this large influx of newcomers, doing the opposite of the Ellis Island approach, which fostered integration and respect for American culture. In the past, newcomers were considered Americans upon arrival. It makes one wonder—why else would they come here?
Today, once an undocumented individual sets foot in the U.S., their ethnicity or race seems integral to their identity. The DEI committee’s perspective suggests that embracing tribal identity can lead to substantial assistance in housing, healthcare, and education.
Consequently, under the current administration, the majority of illegal immigrants are swiftly labeled as victims in a binary system that splits Americans into oppressors and oppressed.
If someone aimed to undermine America, they could hardly have done worse than inciting division through tribalism, overwhelming essential social services, and fostering the rise of “sanctuary cities” that defy federal law.
We frequently witness local leaders boasting about “resisting” federal law enforcement—acting like modern-day rebels, they present themselves as mini-Confederates, challenging the federal government on states’ rights while neglecting the need to uphold national laws.
What motivated Biden, or those advising him, to dismantle the border? Was there any rationale behind these drastic changes?
Is the goal to reshape the country’s demographics by bringing in future Democratic voters? Is it simply to appease the demands of certain interest groups?
Will we inadvertently reject the policies of the Trump administration, which prioritized legal immigration and border control?
It’s easy to proclaim moral superiority while opening borders to undocumented entrants. Yet, the endeavor to close those borders and deport millions is nearly impossible.
Those who flaunt their moral high ground while eroding federal laws have no right to label those who advocate for restoring such laws as immoral.
