Final answer:
Angel Island treated immigrants harsher than Ellis Island due to policies and attitudes towards different immigrant groups. Angel Island primarily processed Chinese immigrants, who were subject to the Chinese Exclusion Act, resulting in a more stringent and lengthy interrogation process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Immigrants were treated harsher at Angel Island compared to Ellis Island due to the specific policies and attitudes towards different immigrant groups at the two processing centers.
Angel Island primarily processed immigrants from China, and during the time period, the Chinese Exclusion Act was in effect which banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the US and prohibited them from becoming natural citizens. This act remained in effect for 60 years. As a result, the interrogation process at Angel Island was much more stringent and lengthy, with immigrants being detained for weeks, months, or even years before being allowed entry or deportation. The questions asked during the interrogation were deliberately challenging, including obscure questions about Chinese villages and family genealogies that would have been difficult for immigrants to answer correctly.
In contrast, Ellis Island processed European immigrants and had a less severe inspection process, but still subjected certain immigrants to medical examinations and questioning about job prospects.