Prior to 1892, individual states regulated immigration. For example, more than 8 millions immigrants arriving in New York were processed by officials at Castle Garden Immigration Depot in Lower Manhattan.
The country's first federal immigration station was opened in 1892 on Ellis Island, in Upper New Your Bay. It was the busiest immigrant inspection section for over 60 years ( 1892-1954) and it processed over 12 million immigrants to the U.S.
Later, Ellis Island was made part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument in 1965, and since 1965 has been hosting a museum of immigration.
