An Ellis Island immigrant, in order to enter the U.S., needed go

Lower Township - An Ellis Island immigrant, in order to enter the U.S., needed good health, no communicable diseases, be able to walk, correct paperwork, not be a convict, not be insane, and $25, the equivalent now of about $700 in their pocket. Unwed mothers stayed there until the baby was born and it did not receive automatic citizenship. A hospital was available for up to a year if they could pay $2 a day. All this meant the immigrant could work and not become a ward of the state. If rejected, the steamship company was responsible to send them back plus pay a hefty fine. In other words, no freebies.