<P> Angel Island Immigration Station was an immigration station located in San Francisco Bay which operated from January 21 , 1910 to November 5 , 1940 , where immigrants entering the United States were detained and interrogated . Angel Island ( California ) is an island in San Francisco Bay . It is currently a State Park administered by California State Parks and a California Historical Landmark . The island was originally a fishing and hunting site for Coastal Miwok Indians , then it was a haven for Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala . Later , it was developed as a cattle ranch , then , starting with the Civil War , the island served as a U.S. Army post . During the island 's Immigration Station period , the island held hundreds of thousands of immigrants , the majority from China , Japan , India , Mexico and the Philippines . The detention facility was considered ideal because of its isolated location , making it very easy to control immigrants , contain outbreaks of disease , and enforce the new immigration laws . The station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the title Angel Island , U.S. Immigration Station , and is a National Historic Landmark . </P>
where did immigrants enter the us on the west coast
San Francisco Bay