Immigration to America Immigrants come to America for many reasons. At the turn of the century, they streamed into Ellis island to escape political or religious persecution and poverty. Today immigrants come for many of the same reasons. Immigrants come different ways, perhaps in large trucks, or in Enrique and rosa's case, a long walk through smelly sewer pipes. Coming through Ellis island wasn't much different. They were shoved into tiny rooms that couldn't nearly accommodate the vast number of people in the rooms. Neither was very comfortable nor pleasant, but was a price to pay for freedom. Coming through Ellis island was much easier th