immigrants passing through Ellis Island
The poem is located on the Statue of Liberty and is a symbol recognized by immigrants as they arrived at Ellis Island in New York.
Ellis Island was the processing hub for immigrants arriving on the east coast of the United States. It suggested that the US was willing to accept any person from any background. Those rejected from their home countries were accepted in the US, at least in theory. The diverse country had opportunities such as jobs, education, and the ability to work their way up in society.
