Abrother out for 62 years, some 12 million people passed through ellis island for the promise of a better life in america. they came on huge steamships, the majority from eastern europe and italy, the rest from other corners of the world: lebanon, cyprus, china, jamaica, and numerous other places. many had left their homelands to escape poverty, while others had fled religious persecution or war. which words signal the passage of time? a some 12 million people b fled religious persecution c through ellis island d for 62 years