Kids in some town in Iowa simulated a 1907 voyage to Ellis Island by dressing up in period costumes, going through inspections, etc. etc.

On the MultiCultiCult danger scale this is pretty low, but nonetheless some of it is a little revealing:

[A student] said he learned during the unit on Ellis Island that first-class passengers were usually treated better than the poorer immigrants...

Students also learned how the lives of present-day immigrants mirror the struggles of new Americans from 100 years ago, he said...

"In first class we've got good food," [a student] said. "It just shows the difference between first class and third class."

...Chris Long, 13, played Jose, a poor man from Portugal. In accordance with what some immigrants experienced at Ellis Island, an official said Jose did not pass one of the exams and marked his coat with chalk...

[A teacher name of] Yager explained to Chris and other marked students how Ellis Island procedures were similar to security checks made today at airports and other public locations.

American officials then worried immigrants might bring disease into the country, Yager said. Now, she said, they are concerned about terrorism and weapons.

"We didn't want to degrade people (then), but we were scared," Yager said...

Any lessons relating to present day immigrants is not described. However, one will note that someone named Jose was singled out to be rejected. Gosh, you think the teachers could have been sending a message? Where we just "scared" about disease then? Wouldn't "rightfully very concerned" be the better choice of words?