US Starts Deportation Reprieve for Young Illegal Immigrants

 The United States is starting this week to take applications from young illegal immigrants who want to stay in the country for the next two years to work and go to school without the threat of deportation¹.

President Barack Obama eased the country's immigration laws two months ago.

Beginning Wednesday, 800,000 or more young people brought to the country illegally by their parents will be eligible² for the reprieve³ if they meet certain standards, such as graduating from high school or serving in the U.S. military.

Mr. Obama blocked the deportations after the U.S. Congress failed to adopt comprehensive immigration reforms. He said it was "the right thing to do" to give "relief and hope" to young people, many of whom have spent almost their entire lives in the U.S. and have little connection to other countries.

Illegal immigration is a controversial issue in the U.S. Some reports say illegal aliens take jobs that American workers could fill and that governments are forced to spend money on social programs to assist the illegal immigrants that otherwise could be used to help American citizens.

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 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。

3 reprieve   

n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解

参考例句：

• He was saved from the gallows by a lastminute reprieve.最后一刻的缓刑令把他从绞架上解救了下来。
• The railway line, due for closure, has been granted a six-month reprieve.本应停运的铁路线获准多运行6 个月。