“There are tens of thousands of poems on these walls.
They are all cries of suffering and sadness.
The day that I am rid of this prison and become successful,
I must remember that this chapter once existed…”
These lines were carved into the walls of Angel Island Immigration Station, a site often called the "Ellis Island of the West." Located in San Francisco Bay, it served as a key immigration processing center from 1910 to 1940. Unlike Ellis Island, which welcomed millions of immigrants to the U.S., Angel Island was primarily designed to enforce exclusionary immigration policies, particularly against Asians. During World War II, it also functioned as an internment facility for prisoners of war. Today, thanks to the work of CyArk, this site is digitally preserved and accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
Angel Island: A Gate or a Cage?
Angel Island was meant to be an entry point, but for many, it felt like a prison. U.S. immigration policies heavily favored European immigrants, allowing them to disembark in San Francisco with minimal inspection. Asian immigrants, particularly Chinese arrivals affected by the Chinese Exclusion Act, were treated differently. Upon arrival, they were transported to the island, where they underwent rigorous medical examinations and lengthy interrogations meant to find any excuse for deportation. Many detainees remained in limbo for weeks, months, or even years.
The conditions at Angel Island were harsh. The barracks, designed to hold no more than 60 people per room, often housed up to 200, leading to severe overcrowding. Unsanitary conditions and inadequate medical care added to the suffering of detainees. The isolation and uncertainty took a psychological toll.
"Instead of remaining a citizen of China, I willingly became an ox.
I intended to come to America to earn a living.
The Western-styled buildings are lofty,
but I have not the luck to live in them.
How was anyone to know that my dwelling place would be a prison?"
Poetry as Resistance
Faced with dehumanizing treatment, detainees found a way to resist through poetry. Carving verses into the wooden walls of the barracks, they documented their frustrations, sorrows, and hopes. These poems—written in traditional Chinese styles—transformed the detention center into an archive of suffering and resilience.
"America has power, but not justice.
In prison, we were victimized as if we were guilty.
Given no opportunity to explain, it was really brutal.
I bow my head in reflection but there is nothing I can do."
More than a century later, these carved poems remain as powerful testaments to the past. Through advanced 3D documentation techniques, CyArk has preserved Angel Island digitally, ensuring that these voices are not lost. Founded in 2003, CyArk has pioneered the use of 3D scanning and digital modeling to record cultural heritage sites across the world. Now, visitors can explore Angel Island’s history online, seeing the barracks and reading the poetry for themselves.
Angel Island’s story remains relevant today. The experiences of its detainees reflect broader issues of migration, exclusion, and resilience. The poetry carved into its walls speaks across generations, reminding us of the struggles of those who sought a better life in America.
Miguel Botero is an editor and project manager at Memria. He has co-produced more than thirty narrative projects on peacebuilding in collaboration with filmmakers and podcasters in Colombia.