[xzins]

Hence there is no difference between my grandparents, who legally arrived by boat from Europe at the turn of the twentieth century

While "legal entry" is true of immigration to America in the modern era, it doesn't appear to be true during the frontier era and earlier.

[fizziwig]

"While "legal entry" is true of immigration to America in the modern era, it doesn't appear to be true during the frontier era and earlier"
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Were there any immigration laws during the frontier era to violate? And if so, what were those laws and who violated them?

[calex59]

While "legal entry" is true of immigration to America in the modern era, it doesn't appear to be true during the frontier era and earlier.

People had to stop at Ellis Island, show the proper papers and go through health checks and other checks before being allowed into the country. Of course there were legal entries and ILLEGAL entries.

The fact of the matter is immigrants to this country always had to go through a certain process to become Citizens or legal residents, AND they all showed a willingness to do so. That is the difference between todays ILLEGAL law breaking parasites and the immigrants of the past.