English 中文网 漫画网 爱新闻iNews 翻译论坛
中国网站品牌栏目(频道)
当前位置: Language Tips> Audio & Video> 新闻播报> Special Speed News VOA慢速

For some, free citizenship classes; for others, a dream delayed again

[ 2010-09-30 10:37]     字号 [] [] []  
免费订阅30天China Daily双语新闻手机报:移动用户编辑短信CD至106580009009

This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

Americans talk a lot about illegal immigration but not as much about legal immigration.

Legal immigrants who want to become citizens must learn English and show a knowledge of American history and government. They must also pay a fee and meet other requirements.

Immigrants may take what are called citizenship classes to help them prepare for the naturalization test. Last year, 13 groups received a total of just over one million dollars from the government to offer these classes.

This year, that support has grown to almost eight million dollars, and the money is going to 75 organizations across the country. And now, starting in October, many classes will be offered free of charge.

This will happen through a program supported by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Alejandro Mayorkas is the agency's director.

ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS: "We hope to make it an easier transition for people to realize their aspirations of becoming US citizens."

Elsy Ventura from El Salvador enrolled in a 100-dollar class near Washington. She says that is a lot to pay as a single mother also supporting her own mother, who lives with her. But her goal is to become an American.

ELSY VENTURA: "I want to have rights as anybody else in this country."

Other immigrants share that goal. But for some young people, hopes of citizenship were recently blocked in Congress for the fifth time in ten years.

The United States has an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. About two million of them arrived as children brought by their parents.

A measure known as the Dream Act would put these children of undocumented immigrants on a path toward citizenship instead of possible expulsion. In return, they would have to show "good moral character" and graduate from high school. They would also have to complete two years of college or serve in the military.

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT: "I grew up in the United States, ever since I was six years old, and it's the custom here and the culture I have grown to love."

(SOUND: Protesters shouting "Dream Act Now!")

"Dream" is short for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. Some conservatives say it could increase illegal border crossings at a time when many Americans want stronger controls.

But the idea gained support among conservatives and liberals, the military and education leaders. Still, the measure died this month in the Senate, where it was tied to a bill to let gays serve openly in the military.

Political observers do not expect Congress to consider the Dream Act again before congressional elections in November. But they do expect supporters to keep trying in the future.

And that's the VOA Special English Education Report. Our reports are online at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.

expulsion: the act of forcing somebody to leave a place; the act of expelling somebody(驱逐;逐出)

Related stories:

Peace Corps volunteers find a wired world

Women edge past men in doctorates in US

Coming to terms with academic titles at US colleges

For 'cabaret stars of tomorrow,' a chance to train now

(来源:VOA 编辑:陈丹妮)

 
中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
 

关注和订阅

人气排行

翻译服务

中国日报网翻译工作室

我们提供:媒体、文化、财经法律等专业领域的中英互译服务
电话:010-84883468
邮件:translate@chinadaily.com.cn