As reported here by the New York Times a week and a half before the 1986 ceremony, “Eighty Americans from 42 ethnic groups were named yesterday as recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation.”

According to the report, “the winners, a mixture of prominent and relatively unknown citizens, were screened by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, which was selected for the work by the foundation.” The list of recipients describes Trump as “German, developer,” Parks as “African-American, activist” and Ali as “African-American, boxer.”

According to its website, the Ellis Island Honors Society “honors the importance of immigration to America’s prosperity and celebrates the contributions immigrants and their progeny have made to our nation” (www.eihonors.org/). 1986 was the inaugural year for the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, which are “presented annually to those who have shown an outstanding commitment to serving our nation either professionally, culturally or civically, among other criteria.”

... so he was celebrated as an immigrant.