VOA标准英语2010年-US Immigration Service Grants Reprieve

Thousands of Haitians in the New York area, reeling from the devastation¹ of last week's earthquake to family back home, found some help Wednesday at a briefing by U.S. immigration officials.

They walked, they took the subway, and they came to the Federal Building in Manhattan from Brooklyn to learn about a new immigration program for Haitian citizens living in the United States.  It was part of another intense day of searching for word of what is going on in their homeland, and for how the U.S. government might be able to help. Many, like Jean-Mary Celhomme, lost family members in the earthquake.

"I lost some cousins, almost six of them, lost of them," she said.  "They find six bodies, but we have more. They don't find them yet."

Celhomme was among New York-area Haitians who came to the federal briefing on the new immigration program.  They learned that Haitians who were here when the earthquake struck will be able to receive temporary protected status (TPS), even if they are in the U.S. illegally.  New York Citizenship² Immigration Service district director Andrea Quarantillo explained:

"Haitian nationals will be able to remain in the U.S. legally, be able to obtain authorization³ to work legally in the United States, be eligible⁴ to obtain permission to travel outside the United  States, and return to their TPS status," she said.

Being able to travel home to help without fear of being denied re-entry to the U.S. is key.

"It's definitely a relief to us who live here because of what's happening, when everything's over we'll be able to go back to Haiti without worry, without nothing bad happening, we'll feel like we'll safe be over there and then come back to America safely," he said.

Reverend Terry Lee, founder⁵ of Immigrants Responding to Crisis, led members of his group to the meeting. Lee praised the federal initiative.

"I believe that by the outpouring of support it brings healing to the mind of the people," he noted⁶.

Only Haitians already in the U.S. are eligible for temporary protected status.  People in the audience asked many other questions about where and how to apply. They learned, among other things, that Haitians who are now being held in detention⁷ centers will be released if they qualify for TPS.

Immigration official Andrea Quarantillo said the purpose of the program is simple: to help Haiti.

"The United States government doesn't want to overwhelm Haiti with many of their citizens returning to Haiti when they don't have the infrastructure⁸ to support it," she added.  "It's been absolutely devastated⁹ over there, and they could not support the return of a large group of people who had been in the U.S."

Just as importantly, she said, Haitians in the U.S. will be able to continue sending family back home some of the money they earn here.  It could make all the difference to them at this time of need.

 

1 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

3 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

4 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

5 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。