VOA标准英语2014--Immigrant Children Live in Numerous US Communities

 

Immigrant Children Live in Numerous US Communities

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA —

Immigration has been a hot topic in American politics for years. But the recent surge of attention is different. While historically, the debate has been about migrant workers threatening the American job market, now, it’s about children coming to the U.S. all alone. And they’re being housed around the United States while their legal status is resolved.

This is happening all over the country. Americans picketing¹ the recent influx² of immigrant children from Central America into the United States. By law they can not be deported³ without a court hearing, but with thousands of cases to process the system is backlogged⁴.

On one road, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is holding some children at the Youth for Tomorrow Center in Virginia’s Prince William County. That does not sit well with County Chairman Corey Stewart, who said, “The federal government never told us that these kids were going to be located in Prince William County. We’re concerned, potentially, even about communicable diseases.”

Divisive issue

Area residents seem divided on the issue. At a nearby supermarket some shared the chairman's opposition⁵.

“Nobody asked us before they brought them here. And I might not object, but nobody asked us. They showed up here. Who’s going to deal with it if there’s a problem?” asked Michael Oaks of Bristow, Virginia.

Tony of Manassas, Virginia, said, “I feel that our government, the Democratic Party, has forced them on us. Not asked us to take them in, they forced it on us.”

“I’m more worried about just trying to get around the whole immigration problem, the president just doing whatever he wants,” said Laura Castillo of Mourinton, Virginia.

Others, though, took a more positive view:

Marcus Smith of Bristow said, “Yeah, I just feel you got to take care of kids no matter what the situation is or how they got here.”

Un Lee of Bristow said, “As long as they are properly quarantined and the appropriate health departments are aware of it and taking care of it, I’m just going to trust them to do what’s necessary."

“At this point, it is what it is, if they’re here, if they have a chance to not let them come here, then great, but if they’re here, you got to help them, right? They’re kids,” said Charise French of Manassas.

And with thousands of children seeking refuge in the United States, the administration will be forced to make some sort of decision about their futures⁶, either domestically or back where they came from.

1 picketing   

[经] 罢工工人劝阻工人上班，工人纠察线

参考例句：

• mass picketing of the factory 罢工工人集体对工厂的封锁
• "And my chaps were also there to prevent picketing! “我的人也是防着女工们要拦厂！ 来自子夜部分

2 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

3 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 backlogged   

（使）积压( backlog的过去式和过去分词 )； 储存； （为日后装运而）登账确认（订货）

参考例句：

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。