Ellis Island primarily served as a site for what?

• A. A detention center for criminals.
• B. Processing arriving immigrants into the United States.
• C. A military base during the Spanish-American War.
• D. A cultural museum for Native American tribes.

Answer: (B)

Ellis Island was the main gateway where new arrivals were processed into the United States. It housed the federal immigration station, so people coming from abroad were examined and documented there before they could enter the country. This included medical checks and legal questions to determine eligibility for admission. The purpose was to screen and admit newcomers, not to detain criminals, serve as a military base, or become a cultural museum. Millions passed through its doors, making it the central entry point for immigrants seeking a new life in America.