the physical numbers of people let in were far, far less than today.
you had to have money to live. you had to have jobs lined up and somewhere to stay. lots of times people were set up to stay with family or family friends. if you had serious diseases you were not let in.
you had to have money to live. you had to have jobs lined up and somewhere to stay. lots of times people were set up to stay with family or family friends. if you had serious diseases you were not let in.
The requirements were better then as you say, but the relative physical numbers were much more.
From 1900 to 1910 the US population grew from 76 million to 92 million. Immigration in that decade was about 9 million.
From 2000 to 2010 the US population grew from 281 million to 209 million. Immigration in that decade was about 13 million.
The relative immigration was much higher at the turn of the previous century.