As part of a professional development program organized by the Save Ellis Island Foundation, the exhibits, databases, photo archives, and recorded interviews at the island's museum helps put the nation's current immigration debate into a broader historical context. Teachers at these sessions learn from scholars and park personnel about early immigration laws, the health inspections that officials conducted to control disease and gauge the mental acuity of aspiring citizens, and the ways the influx of millions changed the nation. Peering at the displays of photographs, the stacks of weatherworn suitcases, and the personal effects at the museum, they are able to weave together stories of individuals and the economic and political realities that impelled them to risk the difficult ocean passage to reach America. During a day spent at a U.S. Department of Homeland Security station at Newark Liberty International Airport, the teachers observed current immigration policies in action as federal agents processed newcomers. This article describes how the teachers used what they learned to help students imagine what immigrants in the earlier era felt and experienced on their way to American citizenship. The lessons can also lead to a discussion on today's illegal immigration debate and other controversial issues related to the topic.