Declaration for Refugees Entering the United States for Fort Ontario
8/1944
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In August 1944, during World War II, 982 European refugees arrived in New York on the USS Henry Gibbins en route to the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter near Oswego, New York. This is the declaration that they agreed to in order to reside at the refugee camp.
They promised to reside at Fort Ontario until the end of WWII as a guest of the United States, and agreed that no promises had been made to them regarding work or remaining in the United States after the war. They were not permitted to leave the camp during their stay.
Many Americans supported the creation of other refugee centers in the United States and signed petitions with the message "I am with you heart and soul in your new move to save the victims of Hitler' s terror in Europe. And I know that you would have not only my support, but the support of most Americans, if you could see your way clear to opening additional camps in which Hitler's victims could find temporary asylum in this country."
They promised to reside at Fort Ontario until the end of WWII as a guest of the United States, and agreed that no promises had been made to them regarding work or remaining in the United States after the war. They were not permitted to leave the camp during their stay.
Many Americans supported the creation of other refugee centers in the United States and signed petitions with the message "I am with you heart and soul in your new move to save the victims of Hitler' s terror in Europe. And I know that you would have not only my support, but the support of most Americans, if you could see your way clear to opening additional camps in which Hitler's victims could find temporary asylum in this country."
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior .
National Archives Identifier: 176900090
Full Citation: Departure for the United States of America; 8/1944; 1-5 Refugees (Pt. 1); Central Classified Files, 1907 - 1972; Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior , Record Group 48; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/refugees-fort-ontario-declaration, May 22, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
