VOA标准英语2012--Syrians in US May Get Extended Stays

Syrians in US May Get Extended Stays

Syrian-Americans rallied again in Washington, last week, against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Many of them are worried their relatives and loved ones who have been in the United States on temporary visas will have to go back to Syria once their visas run out. 

Among those at risk: Nassib Nwelati, a Syrian student here on a scholarship to study business.

“Many Syrians I know are scared to go back. They don’t know what to do. They have been so worried because not only you need to worry about what’s going on in Syria and watch the news and cry for these people. But also you need to worry about your status because the time is ticking, the clock is ticking,” Nwelati said. 

Now help may be on the way. Voice of America has learned the Obama Administration is about to recommend what is called a “Temporary Protection Status” for Syrian nationals currently in the U.S. 

If approved, the move would allow Syrian nationals already in the United States - on tourist, business, student and other such visas - to remain in the country, until the situation in Syria stabilizes¹ and becomes safer for the nationals to go home.

Earlier this month, six Democratic senators sent a letter to President Obama calling on him to quickly designate Syrian nationals for the temporary protection status. 

They say forcing Syrians to return to their country in the midst of ongoing² violence would undermine U.S. leadership and is inconsistent with what they say is America’s traditional role as a safe haven³ for those fleeing repression⁴.

Attorney Abed Ayoub is with the largest Arab-American civil rights organization in the U.S. He helped lead a coalition⁵ of groups to petition the Department of Homeland Security in January for the temporary protection status.

“The humanitarian⁶ situation on the ground in Syria is dire⁷. And forcing anybody to return is inhumane. We can’t put these individual’s lives in jeopardy⁸ . If the U.S. State Department feels the embassy over there is not safe enough for their employees then, for sure, the country’s not safe enough for its nationals to return,” he said.

Data from the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration registry says there are about 3,000 Syrian nationals who would be eligible⁹, although Arab-American activists¹⁰ say that number is much higher. 

But for visiting Syrians like Nassib, the protection status may literally¹¹ mean the difference between life and death. 

1 stabilizes   

n.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的名词复数 )v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The broadbased attachment of the mesenteric root stabilizes the small bowel. 肠系膜根部基底宽阔的附着面使小肠得以稳定。 来自辞典例句
• The available supply of industrial product and produce stabilizes growth. 工业品与农产品的有效供给稳定增长。 来自互联网

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

4 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

7 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

8 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

9 eligible   

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。

10 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。