Located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the Angel Island Immigration Station stands as a reminder that the United States—a nation to which generations of immigrants have contributed—has at times implemented unjust policies toward those pursuing entry into the country. Built to enforce racially exclusionary immigration laws, the station detained more than 300,000 immigrants, primarily from Asia and across the Pacific. While Ellis Island is remembered as a gateway of welcome, Angel Island tells a different story of lengthy interrogations, months or even years of detention, invasive medical exams, and family separation. Diving deeper into these histories, visitors will also find courageous stories of resilience, hope, and determination. The Angel Island Immigration Station allows visitors to experience its vital history through the perspective of immigrants and serves as a visceral reminder of our obligation now to honor the ideal of that all are created equal and to continue the work of building a more perfect union.

At its peak, the Angel Island Immigration Station was the busiest immigration port on the West Coast, processing approximately 1,000,000 people between 1910 and 1940. More than 300,000 people from 80 different countries (mainly China, Japan, and other Asian Pacific Island countries) were unjustly detained on the island, many due to their race. When the immigration station closed in 1940, the site was used to detain 700 civilians of Japanese heritage living in Hawai’i and California, and served as a prisoner of war processing facility during World War II. In 1963, Angel Island became part of the California State Park system.

Although the detention barracks and hospital were successfully rehabilitated, they require ongoing maintenance in order to serve visitors’ needs. Several other historic structures on the island are deteriorating, including the powerhouse, mule barn, and World War II-era barracks. Due to its island location, the immigration station is subjected to constant wind and weather. Heavy rain has caused leaks in the elevators, restricting handicap accessibility, and wildfires scorched more than half of the island in 2008. Additionally, the current environment of heightened immigration enforcement has prompted some community members and school groups to reconsider their engagement with the site out of concern and consideration for students and community members who may have previously experienced immigration raids or detention, highlighting the political and social pressures that may affect Angel Island’s long-term stability.

The AIISF was founded in 1983 by descendants of Angel Island detainees and works closely with Angel Island State Park to manage preservation, interpretation, and programming at the site. Approximately 23,000 people visit the immigration station each year, but this is a fraction of the number of visits to nearby Alcatraz. Additional financial investment and expanded marketing efforts could help increase visitation, improve accessibility, enhance interpretation, and increase public attention.

Angel Island Immigration Station was named to the National Trust's list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2026. It was also named in 1999 and 2017.