U.S. government opening immigration files

WASHINGTON, June 4 (UPI) -- An official says the U.S. government's opening of millions of individuals' immigration files will give an insight into the country's immigration history.

Gregory Smith of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service said genealogists and historians alike will benefit from the government's release of the immigration papers from the first half of the 20th century, USA Today reported Thursday.

"Individually, these files represent the story of just one immigrant," Smith said, "but as a collection, they document the story of American immigration ... with its many wonders and its many blemishes."

At least 21 million of the immigration files are set to be transferred by the federal citizenship agency to National Archives facilities, where they will be accessible to public researchers.

San Francisco documentary maker Jennie Lew told USA Today the release of the historic documents will help researchers uncover new facts about the history of the United States.

"This opens an important and hidden chapter in our history," Lew said.