Races, Immigration: United States. New York. New York City. Immigrant Station: Regulation of Immigration at the Port of Entry. United States Immigrant Station, New York City: Contract laborers to be deported. c. 1903

Editor: This photograph, titled "Contract Laborers to be Deported" by J.H. Adams, captures a somber group of men at the New York Immigrant Station. What strikes me is the palpable sense of dejection. What do you see here? Curator: It's a stark image, isn't it? This photograph speaks volumes about the socio-political climate of immigration at the time. Note the direct gaze of some, the averted eyes of others. What does it tell us about the power dynamics at play in controlling who gets to participate in the American Dream? Editor: That's powerful. I hadn't considered the element of control so explicitly. I see it as a moment frozen in time, capturing the vulnerability of these men. Curator: Exactly. And it raises questions about how institutions like the Immigration Station shaped the narrative of immigration and, indeed, the very definition of who "belongs" in society. A stark reminder of our present concerns with immigration, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. I'll never look at historical photos the same way again.