Contract laborer

The 1885 law, known as the Foran Act, made it illegal to prepay passage or recruit aliens under a labor contract made abroad, and an 1887 amendment had such people sent back. Actors, artists, lecturers, singers, personal servants and some skilled workers were exempt.

That is why passenger lists from 1903 ask whether the immigrant came by reason of any offer, promise or agreement to labor in the United States. A suspected case appears as ACL or CL on a list of aliens held for special inquiry.