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Immunity and Immigration: Why is this hotel a fortress of public health?
Hotel de Inmigrantes in Buenos Aires, Argentina is not only a building for hosting immigrants, but also an important fortress reflecting the concept of public health.Since its construction began in 1905 and its completion in 1911, the building once hosted more than one million immigrants and became a pioneer in the fight against infectious diseases.
The hotel was built after the global cholera epidemic, and one of the top priorities of the Argentine government to prevent foreign diseases from entering the country.
Historical Background
As the cholera epidemic in 1873-1874 affected the Americas, the Argentine government realized the need to establish a special agency to manage immigration issues.Guillermo Wilcken, then head of the Central Immigration Commission of Argentina, proposed a new immigration center that is not just a shelter, but a sustainable immigration hotel to emphasize the concept of dignity rather than poverty .
Wilken hopes that the new building will attract immigrants from Europe and show the image of the "American Dream".
This plan has stalled for nearly 20 years due to delays in government bureaucracy.In 1883, the government approved the budget and design plan, but real construction was not started until 1905.In the end, the hotel was officially completed in 1911 and reached a full capacity of 3,000 people in just one year.
Hotel Life
The Immigration Hotel is designed as a "castle" with various buildings surrounding the central square.These buildings are fully functional, including an entry hall, employment office, management building, hospital and accommodation facilities, and various services are provided to guests for free.The hotel is expected to stay for no more than five days, but in fact some people have to stay for a long time.
Every immigrant entering Argentina must undergo documentary inspections and medical examinations before disembarking.
People who are over 60 years of age or have physical/psychological problems, especially those carrying infectious diseases, are prohibited from entering the country.During this period, the hotel strictly managed the lives of residents, and the daily schedule made it look like at least a small society.
Changes in immigration laws
As time passed, immigration laws in Argentina changed, especially during World War I, the country stepped up its scrutiny of incoming people.In 1916, the law required all immigrants to provide a proof of judicial organs from their country of origin to prove that they had no criminal record in the past decade.
This law continues to affect Argentina's entry policy, reflecting the society's emphasis on public health and its prevention of enriching and diverse cultures.
Post-Revolutionary and Current Tenants
With the arrival of the "Liberal Revolution" in 1955, the hotel was no longer used as a special immigration center, but was occasionally used by the military and visa applications.Later in 1990, it was designated as a national historical monument, further consolidating its position in Argentina's cultural history.
Today, this place has been converted into a National Immigration Museum and displays the history and contributions of immigration.In 2012, the Contemporary Art Center was also established here on March 3rd.The museum's permanent exhibitions include "Italian and Spanish in Argentina" and "For Men of the World".
As the digitization of five million immigration records, the museum provides important family history materials for descendants who have poured into Argentina.
The story of this hotel is not only a historical recollection, but also a reflection of contemporary public health and immigration policies.Against this background, we can’t help but think about how the current immigration policy will affect future public health?
