Person Record

Metadata

Name

Abdalla, Sara

Other Names

Sarah Al Addouche
Sarah Abdousch Abdalla

Notes

Sarah Abdalla, emmigrated from Syria to the United States in 1923.

When Sarah Abdalla left Syria in 1923 en route to the United States, she had no idea that her journey would lead her to cross the Atlantic three times before reaching her final destination. One of thousands of immigrants denied immediate entry because of a failed eye exam; a pregnant Sarah was sent back to France where she had her daugher, Rose. After she passed the eye exam she and Rose took another ship to New York. Upon arriving at Ellis Island, Sarah again did not pass the eye exam and was held at the hospital on the island with her daugher.

Her husband, Dib, who was living in Detroit at the time, was sending the hospital $4.25 per day for his wife and child. After five months he sent the hospital a letter questioning why he should pay for his daughter since she was nursing and sleeping in her mother's bed. Without responding to his inquiry, Sarah and Rose were shipped back to France and Dib received a letter informing him of their departure.

Finally, Dib sought his congressman's help, who assisted in bringing Sarah and Rose to Detroit. They spent an additional 13 months at the hospital.