VOA标准英语2013--NY City University Immigration Program a Success

 

NY City University Immigration Program a Success

The immigration bill is the big issue on the minds of those seeking information about citizenship¹.

The City University of New York’s call-in phone banks for immigrants draw thousands of inquiries².

Volunteers from all walks of life, including brand- new citizens, man the lines, providing information to callers.  

People from many different cultures help answer the concerned immigrant callers.   

"I’m handling Spanish calls and Brazilian, too.  People who speak Portuguese³. And we are handling calls from all over New York, but even from Idaho," said a volunteer.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg told the volunteers that this program is really doing something positive.

“This country needs more immigrants.  We’ve got to make sure that immigrants that are here get a chance to participate and build our country.  And Washington’s crazy in terms of trying to keep the very people out that built our country and are our future, so you’re helping⁴ a lot," said Bloomberg.

The program has had its impact.  One new citizen is Emma Dyer, who immigrated⁵ from Panama.   Emma found out about the program on TV.

“Being a citizen, people know, your voice counts, you can make change. That piece of paper means to be a lot of things. Number 1, I can go to the airport - any airport - buy a ticket going to anywhere and coming back with no answer and no question because I have my passport," said Dyer.

The crowning achievement is THAT piece of paper.  Almost every week in New York City new citizens are sworn in.  This was a day of joy mixed with tears for 150 new citizens from 32 different countries, including Ghana, France and Venezuela.

“I’ve gone a long way to come [to] this, and I will cherish the American citizenship right now," said new U.S. citizen Shadrack Dugbatey.

“To be part of many nations like put together I think is what for me it means to be American, especially here in New York City," said Axelle Zemouli.

“And then you come to a ceremony where you are officially American. It feels so strange.  It’s so emotional, too, because you have grown to love a country so much.  Everybody loves the United States," said Helene Alonso.

These new citizens personify America….a nation of immigrants from all corners of the world.  And for many, it began with one phone call. 

1 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。

2 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

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 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句