What does it mean to be undesirable? At the turn of the last century if a voyager showed any signs of illness, then he/she was deemed undesirable. Many were told to go back on the ship that made them so seasick. They were treated horribly, heck even the ones allowed to remain were treated badly by Ellis Island gatekeepers and medical staff. As told to me by my German, Slovenian, and Irish grandparents who came over in their 20s. The elders in the families (anyone over 40 years of age) knew they wouldn't get past the gates.
During the Ellis Island years, the undesirables would have had contagious diseases. They updated the immigration acts as situations arose. I found several of those passed throughout the years. I'm sure your family would know better than me since they experienced it first hand and I can only go by research.
What does it mean to be undesirable? At the turn of the last century if a voyager showed any signs of illness, then he/she was deemed undesirable. Many were told to go back on the ship that made them so seasick. They were treated horribly, heck even the ones allowed to remain were treated badly by Ellis Island gatekeepers and medical staff. As told to me by my German, Slovenian, and Irish grandparents who came over in their 20s. The elders in the families (anyone over 40 years of age) knew they wouldn't get past the gates.
During the Ellis Island years, the undesirables would have had contagious diseases. They updated the immigration acts as situations arose. I found several of those passed throughout the years. I'm sure your family would know better than me since they experienced it first hand and I can only go by research.