At times, it seems history does indeed repeat itself. Immigration remains a touchy subject, but it was no different in 1891 as Lee Lum, a Chinese immigrant, faced exportation at his trial today for being in the country contrary to law.

Lum’s case, however, was just one of many. Chinese immigrants found it was easier to pass into the United States through Canada, and their entry caused much controversy in North Dakota. Chinese immigrants were criticized for bringing opium into the state by some, but others sympathized with the immigrants, many of whom were to be sent back to China. The Pembina Express wrote “Theirs indeed is an unfortunate situation; under the law they have committed no crime…and yet they have been suffering imprisonment…for more than a month, and there is no telling when the end will come.…If the cases were reversed and two Americans were treated thus in China, the whole country would want to fight over it. Of course the fault is in the law and we hope it will be so speedily amended that no such disgraceful occurrence may happen again.”

Sources:
“Lee Lum’s Case,” Grant Forks Weekly Plainsdealer. Nov. 5, 1891: 9.
“John Chinaman at Pembina,” Grant Forks Weekly Plainsdealer. Nov. 5, 1891: 10.
“Celestials coming,” Grant Forks Weekly Plainsdealer. Oct. 22, 1891: 4
“Postponed again,” Grant Forks Weekly Plainsdealer. Oct. 22, 1891: 4.
“The Chinamen,” Grand Forks Weekly Plainsdealer. Oct. 15, 1891: 6.

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