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VOA标准英语2012--Illegal Immigrants Offered Lower Tuition for Higher Education

时间:2012-10-02 09:59:25

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Illegal Immigrants Offered Lower Tuition for Higher Education

American dream on hold

Ivette Roman is one of those people impacted by the presidential decree. Born in Peru, she's one of thousands of immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents. She grew up in Maryland and, as a high school graduate with honors, was looking forward to attending a university in the state.

"I was super excited," Roman says. "I was like 'Yes! I am finally going to college and pursue my dream.'" 

But that dream is on hold for now. Roman's status as an undocumented immigrant means she's not eligible1 for same lower tuition rates at state-run colleges and universities as other Maryland residents. 

"I was just devastated," she says. "I was saying 'What am I going to do?' I tried looking for other ways to pay for it and I was not going to give up easily. It is everything that I have ever wanted, is to go to college."

In-state tuition

Now, immigrant rights groups are urging Maryland voters to say yes to a plan offering in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. It's a referendum on a law passed by the state legislature last year. 

Maryland's "Dream Act" is tougher than similar laws in 11 other states, says state legislator Anne Kaiser. "We have made our law even tougher to say to people, 'This is just going to the most deserving kids, who have worked hard and played by the rules, and just want an opportunity for an in-state education.'"

If voters approve, undocumented immigrants will receive in-state tuition if they attend a community college for two years before transferring to a four-year state college or university. Parents would have to pay state income taxes for five years and plan to become permanent residents. 

Unjust rewards?

But the initiative faces opposition2.

"It rewards law-breaking. It invites future law-breaking and it is fundamentally unfair to those who have played by the rules," says Kristen Williamson, with the Federation3 for American Immigration Reform.

The group says some 3,000 illegal immigrants would immediately become eligible for in-state tuition if the law is approved.

"Having an incentive4 like in-state tuition will only invite more illegal immigration into the state," Williamson says. "And that means that Marylanders aren't necessarily going to get a return on their investment because these illegal aliens are not eligible to work in the country permanently5."

For now, Ivette Roman can obtain a renewable two-year work permit to stay in the country without fear of deportation6. She and other young immigrants hope Maryland's Dream Act will provide a path to a college education, rewarding career and, eventually, U.S. citizenship7


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1 eligible Cq6xL     
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。
2 opposition eIUxU     
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。
3 federation htCzMS     
n.同盟,联邦,联合,联盟,联合会
参考例句:
  • It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
  • Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。
4 incentive j4zy9     
n.刺激;动力;鼓励;诱因;动机
参考例句:
  • Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中,钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
  • He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。
5 permanently KluzuU     
adv.永恒地,永久地,固定不变地
参考例句:
  • The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
  • The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。
6 deportation Nwjx6     
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。
7 citizenship AV3yA     
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。

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