In the late 1800s and early 1900s, large numbers of Jews were fleeing persecution (including pogroms) in Russia and Eastern Europe. Overcrowding, economic hardship, and rising anti-Semitism on the U.S. East Coast exacerbated concerns, both among immigrants themselves and those aiding them. To mitigate this, philanthropist Jacob H. Schiff proposed diverting some Jewish immigration away from the congested Atlantic ports to a more southern route: through Galveston, Texas.
The effort became known as the Galveston Movement, overseen by the Jewish Immigrants’ Information Bureau (JIIB), with Rabbi Henry Cohen playing a central local role. Cohen met arriving ships, provided aid in processing, helped with housing, meals, bath, medical inspections, and made sure immigrants got railroad tickets and guidance to settle in communities beyond the port.
Between 1907 and 1914, about 9,300-10,000 Jewish immigrants entered the U.S. via Galveston under this movement. Few stayed in Galveston itself; most were routed to towns in the Midwest, South, and West (including Texas, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, Colorado, and Oklahoma) where labor or community support awaited them.
The program ended in 1914. Contributing factors included stricter immigration inspections in Galveston, increasing federal restrictions, and derailed logistics (some associated with World War I). Jacob Schiff’s influence also diminished politically, limiting the possibility of continuing or reviving the effort.
Overall, although relatively short-lived, the Galveston Movement represented a significant humanitarian and strategic attempt to redirect Jewish immigration to reduce overcrowding and assist immigrants in achieving better starts in America. Its legacy lives on in the communities that were formed through its dispersal efforts.
