VOA常速英语2018 美国机构修改“移民国家”的使命宣言

US Agency Changes ‘Nation of Immigrants’ Mission Statement

The United States government agency that oversees¹ immigration has changed its mission statement. The new version no longer describes the U.S. as a “nation of immigrants.”

负责监督移民事务的美国政府机构已经修改了其使命声明。新的声明不再称美国为“移民国家”。

The director of the U.S. Citizenship² and Immigration Services, L. Francis Cissna, wrote an email about the change to USCIS employees on Thursday. A letter about the change from Cissna is also published on the agency’s website.

美国公民与移民服务局局长L. 弗朗西斯·希斯纳(L. Francis Cissna)周四在一封写给单位员工的电子邮件中提到了这一改变。该机构的官方网站上也发表了一封来自希斯纳的邮件提到了这一变化。

The new mission statement says: “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administers the nation’s lawful³ immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently⁴ and fairly adjudicating requests for immigration benefits while protecting Americans, securing the homeland, and honoring our values.”

新的使命声明称：“美国公民及移民服务局管理国家的合法移民系统，有效率而且公平地裁决关于移民福利的申请，同时保障美国人、确保国土安全，并尊崇我们的价值，以此来守护移民系统的公正与承诺。”

Cissna said he believes “the simple, straightforward⁵ statement clearly defines the agency’s role” in carrying out immigration laws and responsibilities to the American people.

希斯纳表示，他相信“这一简单、直接的声明清楚地界定了该机构在向美国人民执行移民法律以及责任方面的作用。”

The earlier mission statement said the agency “secures America’s promise as a nation of immigrants…”

之前的使命声明称该机构“确保美国作为移民国家的承诺......”

The phrase “nation of immigrants” has a long history in American political speeches. Most recent presidents from both political parties, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush, have used the phrase to describe America.

“移民国家”一词在美国的政治演讲中具有悠久的历史。两党近年来的大多数总统，包括奥巴马和小布什在内，都用这个词描述过美国。

It is thought to have been used as far back as the 19th century. It described a country where people of many cultures and nationalities added to what has been long described as a “melting pot.”

据认为这个词早在19世纪就被用到过。它描述了一个由众多文化和民族组成的，长期被称之为“大熔炉”的这么一个国家。

The phrase also appears as the title of a book, “A Nation of Immigrants,” by former president John F. Kennedy. The book was published after this death.

这个词也成为了前任总统约翰·肯尼迪（John F. Kennedy）撰写的《移民国家》一书的标题。这本书是在肯尼迪死后出版。

Cissna said that he no longer wants the agency to call immigration applicants⁶ and petitioners⁷ its “customers.” He said he believes the agency is meant to first serve “the American people.”

希斯纳表示，他不在希望该机构称移民申请人为“客户”。他说，他认为该机构首先要服务于“美国人民”。

U.S. Census⁸ Bureau information from 2014 shows that there were at least 42 million immigrants, both legal and illegal, in the country. That number has continued to grow.

美国人口普查局2014年的信息显示，美国至少有4200万移民，包括合法和非法的。这一数字一直在增长。

Critics say the mission statement change raises questions about the country’s continued willingness to accept immigrants. They note the importance of America’s promise to those coming to this country.

批评者表示，这一使命声明的改变引发了人们对美国是否愿意继续接收移民的疑问。他们指出了美国的承诺对这些即将来到这个国家的人士的重要性。

The new statement for the immigration agency does keep the word “promise” in it.

该移民机构在新声明中并未保留“承诺”一词。

The inscription⁹ on the Statue of Liberty in New York City reads “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled¹⁰ masses yearning¹¹ to breathe free.”

纽约自由女神像上的题词是：“给我你那疲倦、贫穷、渴望自由呼吸的人们。”

The lines do not have the word “immigrant” in them, nor does the poem that the inscription is based on. However, it is clear what the subject of the inscription truly is.

这段话中并没有“移民”这个单词，碑文引用的诗句也没有。但是很明显碑文真正的主题是什么。

I’m Mario Ritter.

Words in This Story

integrity –n. the quality of being honest and fair

adjudicate –v. to make an official decision about who is right in a dispute or to decide on a petition

role –n. the part played by a person or group in an effort or organization

phrase –n. words that express a single idea but are not usually a complete sentence

commercial –adj. describing business activity for profit

1 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

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 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

4 efficiently   

adv.高效率地，有能力地

参考例句：

• The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
• Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

5 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

6 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。

7 petitioners   

n.请求人，请愿人( petitioner的名词复数 )；离婚案原告

参考例句：

• Petitioners suggest that anything less than certainty, that any speculation, is irresponsible. 申诉者认为不准确的事或推断都是不负责任的。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• The judge awarded the costs of the case to the petitioners. 法官判定由这起案件的上诉人支付诉讼费用。 来自辞典例句

8 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。

9 inscription   

n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文

参考例句：

• The inscription has worn away and can no longer be read.铭文已磨损，无法辨认了。
• He chiselled an inscription on the marble.他在大理石上刻碑文。

10 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

11 yearning   

a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的

参考例句：

• a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
• He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。