ESL Podcast 838 - Talking About Immigration
immigration policy - the laws, rules, guidelines, and principles a country follows in determining who should be allowed to enter and permanently live in the country
How will all of the people coming here from countries at war affect our immigration policies?
illegal immigrant - a person who is living in a country without permission to do so
Illegal immigrants live in constant fear that they will be sent back to their countries.
to cross the border - to go into another country by crossing over the line drawn on maps between two countries
They crossed the border in the middle of the night, when they thought they wouldn't be seen.
to deport - the government process of sending someone back to the country he or she came from
Did you hear that Young was deported and didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to his family?
do you mean to tell me - a phrase used when one does not believe what another person is saying and wants to challenge it
Do you mean to tell me that you've never told a lie in your entire life?
undocumented worker - a person who is working but does not have legal permission to work and/or live in the country
Most undocumented workers earn far less money that other workers do.
crop - a plant that is grown for food, clothing, or some other purpose
The crops that do best in this part of the country are corn and potatoes.
minimum wage - the lowest amount of money per hour that the government allows businesses to pay their workers
Economists argue that if we increase the minimum wage, employers will hire fewer people or raise the prices of the goods and services they sell.
labor - work performed by people, not machines
What's the most expensive component of making these devices: labor or materials?
amnesty - an official agreement to not punish someone for something illegal that he or she has done, especially for entering a country and living there without permission
Some people believe than an amnesty program would encourage more people to come to the country as illegal immigrants.
work permit - an official document allowing someone to work in a particular country
How old do you have to be to apply for a work permit?
to dodge - to avoid; to find a way to not have to do something
For some young men, going to college was a way to dodge military service.
social service - a service provided by the government to society, such as financial assistance for low-income families, healthcare, and drug addiction treatment
Middle-class taxpayers provide most of the money for social services, but receive relatively few of the benefits.
citizen - a person who is part of a particular country and has all the rights and responsibilities of the people who live in that country
How long do you have to live in the United States before you can apply to become a citizen?
visa - a document that allows a person to live in a country for a particular purpose for a certain period of time
Do we need a visa to go to Brazil?
up - ended; finished; expired; all done; all over
Your treatment session is up. I'll see you next week.
to overstay - to stay somewhere for more time that one is supposed to, or for more time than one is expected to
Aunt Candie has been staying in our house for more than three weeks. How can we gently let her know that she's overstaying her welcome?
illegal alien - a person who is not a citizen of a country and does not have permission to live there, but is living there anyway
If an illegal alien is sent back home, do their kids have to go too?
immigration - an informal term for the part of U.S. government agency that is responsible for administering laws related to immigration and naturalization (the process of becoming a citizen)
Many people are afraid to leave their homes because they don't want to be caught by immigration.