VOA标准英语2010年-Illegal Haitian Immigrants in US Benef

The U.S. government has granted special immigration status to Haitians now living illegally in the United States, protecting them from deportation¹ for 18 months and allowing them to work. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the U.S. considers the Temporary Protected Status measure a form of economic assistance for Haiti.

Chef Creole is a local restaurant in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood. It is here where the local community gathers to forget its problems. Yet, the earthquake devastation² in Haiti figures prominently in many people's minds. Vernet Sejour is Chef Creole's manager.
 
VERNET SEJOUR, RESTAURANT MANAGER: "Right now, it's really a sad moment for me 'cause I lost some family members and everything. I lost two brothers and one sister."

 

Despite the losses, this tight-knit community is hopeful, especially now that Haitian immigrants in the United States have the opportunity to stay in the U.S. legally under Temporary Protected Status.

Carline is one of about 68,000 Haitian immigrants in Florida expected to apply for TPS. She did not want to give her last name.
 
"I think it's going to help a lot of people, especially me. I applied³ today and it's going to benefit a lot of Haitians," she said.

The U.S. government approved the TPS provision shortly after the earthquake struck Haiti last month. It allows an estimated 100,000 to
200,000 Haitians believed to be living in the U.S. illegally on or before the quake hit to remain in this country legally for at least 18 months. Godfried Sain-Fely is also from Haiti.
 
"A lot of Haitians come here with nothing and they feel bad, they don't know what to do," said Sain-Fely.  "A lot of them end up on the streets doing crimes and that's not right. So I really think this is important for me 'cause this is a chance for me to get out here and experience the United States that I was told about."
 
Catholic Legal Services of Miami is helping⁴ Haitian immigrants apply for Temporary Protected Status. So far, it has helped 1,200 applicants⁵.  Executive director Randy McGrorty says many immigrants are misinformed about what TPS allows. He says one major misconception is that it allows Haitians in Haiti to join family members already in the U.S.

"There is no family reunification aspect to TPS," he noted⁶.  "I get that question over and over again, 'My sister was killed in the earthquake and her children are on the street, I heard I can bring them over. When can I do that?'"

Temporary Protected Status also does not grant residency or citizenship⁷ and disqualifies all applicants convicted of two misdemeanors or a felony. But it does allow about 30,000 Haitians who had faced deportation to remain in the United States.

 

1 deportation   

n.驱逐，放逐

参考例句：

• The government issued a deportation order against the four men.政府发出了对那4名男子的驱逐令。
• Years ago convicted criminals in England could face deportation to Australia.很多年以前，英国已定罪的犯人可能被驱逐到澳大利亚。

2 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》

3 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

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 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。