On Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 7:24:53 AM UTC-4, Frank wrote:

Your ancestors came in legally, most likely through Ellis Island. Those
with criminal records, illnesses or infirmaries were rejected and
returned to the ships to be taken back. They did not sneak in like is
going on today. These people are not legal immigrants but are illegal
aliens.

My ancestors (some of them, anyway) came in long before Ellis Island
or any concept of "legal" immigrants. Immigration law is a relatively
recent concept.

Before immigration law, of course, they just beat hell out of the Irish
and made sure they couldn't get good jobs.

Cindy Hamilton