Final answer:
The question does not provide sufficient context for a definitive answer about an American reporter named Ling; however, it allows for a discussion on the historical entry of immigrants to the United States, which was fraught with challenges such as rigorous interrogations at immigration stations like Ellis and Angel Island and legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Immigration Act of 1924 affecting the flow of immigrants until the reforms of 1965.
Step-by-step explanation:
The context provided does not specify an American reporter by the name of Ling or detail how they might have entered a country. However, it provides various scenarios in which individuals from other countries entered the United States at different points in history.
For instance, Sadie Frowne's arrival in the U.S. depicted the experience of immigrants who viewed the country as a land for new opportunities despite potential risks. Angel Island Immigration Station in California was a crucial checkpoint for immigrants from Asia.
Immigrants faced rigorous interrogations and extended stays before being allowed into the country or deported, as the U.S. aimed to control the influx of immigrants, especially from China due to the Chinese Exclusion Act and subsequent legislation.
The Immigration Act of 1924 restricted immigration further, with a focus on maintaining the 'ethnic stock' of the U.S., not loosening until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Furthermore, an example of a Mexican, de la Vega, details the contemporary experiences of individuals trying to enter the U.S. for work and to reunite with family despite the risks of detention and deportation.