VOA常速英语2018 美国机构修改“移民国家”的使命宣言（在线收听）

US Agency Changes ‘Nation of Immigrants’ Mission Statement

The United States government agency that oversees 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. Citizenship 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 lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently 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, straightforward 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 applicants and petitioners 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. Census 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 inscription on the Statue of Liberty in New York City reads “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning 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