Ellis Island

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Island in New York harbour, USA, 1.5 km/1 mi from Manhattan Island; area 0.1 sq km/0.04 sq mi. A former reception centre for immigrants during the immigration waves between 1892 and 1943 (12 million people passed through it from 1892 to 1924), it was later used (until 1954) as a detention centre for nonresidents without documentation, or for those who were being deported. Ellis Island is now a national historic site (1964) and contains the Museum of Immigration (1989).

The US Supreme Court, concluding a lengthy dispute, declared late May 1998 that Ellis Island belonged to New Jersey and not to New York.

The black fimbriation (narrow border) expresses endurance. White stands for Guyana's rivers. Effective date: 26 May 1966. >>