What happened at immigration centers?
1 Answer
They were supplanted by immigration officials at major U.S. airports.
Explanation:
Ellis Island was closed in 1954 and immigration screening shifted to major U.S. airports. The 1950s saw the emergence of trans-Atlantic passenger aviation.
One of the residual effects of World War 2 was the great advances made in long distance aviation. Companies such as Douglas, Convair, Boeing, and British Aviation developed prop aircraft which could fly from London and Paris to New York with a stop over in either Iceland or Ireland. When jet travel was introduced the non-stop flight ensued. This meant a large increase of immigration through airports.
But also, immigration in general had decreased which meant fewer people were coming via ship. The large facilities at the ports of Boston, New York, and Baltimore were simply not needed. The relative trickle of immigrants could more easily be handled at other locations.
