The government hasn’t shared full plans for the possible closings in California and Chicago, where historical records on immigration, land rights and more are housed.A California State Parks worker holds a photo of the old pier where boats once arrived at the Angel Island Immigration Station in 2008.Justin Sullivan / Getty Images fileAug. 12, 2026, 6:05 PM EDTArchivists, genealogists, historians and family researchers fear the Trump administration may be about to bury a large chunk of the nation’s past, including immigration records, by closing federal records facilities in Northern California and Chicago. Just a moment.We are getting your experience ready.
Fears grow that the possible closing of federal archives sites could bury key parts of American history
The government hasn’t shared full plans for the possible closings in California and Chicago, where historical records on immigration, land rights and more are housed.






