Historian Vincent Cannato discusses the history of Ellis Island with political scientist Paul Watanabe. Watanabe's research focuses on contemporary immigration trends as a counterpoint to Cannato's historical research. How has the immigrant experience changed since Ellis Island was the key entry point to the United States?
Vincent J. Cannato teaches history at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He is the author of *The Ungovernable City: John Lindsay and His Struggle to Save New York* and has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.
Paul Watanabe is currently director of the Institute for Asian American Studies and associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston. His principal research and teaching interests are in the areas of American political behavior, ethnic group politics, Asian Americans, and American foreign policy. He is the author of *Ethnic Groups, Congress, and American Foreign Policy* and principal author of *A Dream Deferred: Changing Demographics, New Opportunities, and Challenges for Boston*. He regularly contributes analysis and commentary to national and local television, radio, newspapers, and news magazines. He has served on several boards of non-profit organizations including the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Political Research Associates, the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, the Harvard Community Health Plan, the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund, and the Asian American Policy Review. Paul was born in Murray, Utah, and he received his PhD in Political Science from Harvard University.