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AS IT IS

Children of Immigrants Fear Parents May Be Sent Away

March 06, 2019

Jacqueline Landaverde, age 17, hopes to study political science and law in college. Kevin Palma, also 17, wants to become a doctor.

The two young people are in their final year of high school. They were born in the United States, so they are U.S. citizens. But their parents are not. They moved here from El Salvador under the Temporary Protected Status Program, or TPS. They could live and work legally in the United States for a short period of time while their homeland was dealing with natural disasters or political problems.

The TPS Program did not offer immigrants a way to become U.S. citizens or live permanently in the country. In September 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it would end the program for six of 10 protected countries. More than 400,000 immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Sudan would lose their legal guarantees.

In October 2018, a judge stopped the Trump administration from ending the TPS status for immigrants from Haiti, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Sudan. The Department of Homeland Security announced on March 1 that the TPS will continue for these four countries until January 2, 2020. A separate court case stopped orders to expel about 57,000 Honduran and 9,000 Nepali TPS holders.

Both Landaverde and Palma think their lives will change a great deal if their parents are forced to return to El Salvador. It would probably end their dreams of going to college.

Palma spoke to VOA: “When it struck me was about two years ago, in 2017, when I was actually told the consequences that would happen. Basically, family separation ... I would have to stay here. I’d have to get a full-time job to take care of my siblings.”

Landaverde’s situation is the same. As the oldest child in her family, she, too, would have to get a job and take care of her three brothers and sisters. She is shocked that this situation may come about.

“Growing up I never knew. I just knew protection and my parents were legal in this country. ... We heard these rumors ‘TPS is going to be canceled.’”

Landaverde said she spoke with her parents. They gave a “brief explanation” and said, “It has kept us here in this country.”

But she really understood the problem when she did her own research. She found the Massachusetts Temporary Protected Status Committee. The group organizes demonstrations and meetings, and sends information to TPS holders.

A play with real stories

VOA met with both high school students and their friends in Bethesda, Maryland, at the Imagination Stage Theatre. There they and 11 other children performed “The Last Dream” -- a project from the Boston Experimental Theatre. In the show, children of TPS recipients tell their real-life stories.

"Jackie, they hate us. They don't want us here anymore. Do you not understand that? Next year, none of us are going to be here to celebrate with Sofia, none of us."

Beth Brooks-Mwano watched the play. She felt thankful that the children shared their stories and said that she left with a new understanding.

Will you help me?

The play was part of a three-day series of events. Thousands of TPS holders came to Washington, DC to talk with U.S. lawmakers and ask for a way they could become permanent residents. Democratic Party activists like the idea of helping TPS holders stay. Most Republicans are against the idea. There are seven cases in court related to the Trump administration stopping the TPS Program.

Performances of “The Last Dream” are continuing across the country. Palma and Landaverde should learn about their requests to attend college in a month or two.

I’m Jill Robbins.

Aline Barros reported on this story for VOA News. The video was produced by June Soh. Dr. Jill Robbins adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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Words in This Story

status – n. standing; the official position of someone or something

What do you think of the ending of the TPS Program? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

AS IT IS

British Museum Returns Piece of Emperor's Hair to Ethiopia

March 06, 2019

FILE: An Ethiopian woman walks past a mural depicting Ethiopia's Emperor Tewodros II in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 1, 2007.

Ethiopia announced this week that a museum in Britain has agreed to return locks of hair belonging to a former Ethiopian ruler.

A British soldier cut the hair from the head of Emperor Tewodros II more than 150 years ago. Tewodros II took his own life after his defeat by British troops at the Battle of Magdala. The battle was fought in northern Ethiopia in 1868.

The locks of hair have been part of The National Army Museum’s collection in London since 1959. Museum officials said the family of an artist who painted the emperor on his deathbed donated the hair.

In a statement, the museum said it had agreed to send the hair back to Ethiopia after a request from Ethiopia’s minister of culture and tourism last year.

“The objects are considered significant to the Museum’s collection for their historical connection to a major and unique campaign,” the statement said. It added that the emperor’s hair was “collected in good faith.”

The National Army Museum said it remains in discussions with the Embassy of Ethiopia in London on details of returning the hair.

The Ethiopian Embassy in Britain said that it “welcomes... the unanimous decision by the Trustees of the National Army Museum to return the locks of hair.”

“For Ethiopians everywhere, as the locks of hair represent the remains of one of the country’s most revered and beloved leaders,” it said.

Embassy officials predicted celebrations when the hair “is returned to its rightful home in Ethiopia.”

Emperor Tewodros II claimed to be related to two people named in ancient times: King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The emperor died after a British force raided his mountaintop position to free European diplomats and others he had jailed.

The return of the hair follows a series of requests by Ethiopia for the return of human remains, documents and other objects taken in 1868.

Britain is also involved in a dispute with Greece over the return of the Parthenon Marbles. British officials have resisted those requests, noting laws that ban its museums from permanently disposing of their collections.

I’m John Russell.

Aaron Maasho wrote this story for the Reuters news agency. John Russell adapted it VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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Words in the Story

museum – n.a center established for the care, study and showing of objects of lasting value or interest

lock– n.a small amount of hair

revere – v.to have great respect for (someone or something); to honor someone or something

significant – adj.important

unanimous– adj.having agreement by all sides

dispose– v.to remove or give away in an orderly way

faith– n.belief and trust in someone

AS IT IS

US, Britain Clash Over Farming Issues During Trade Talks

March 06, 2019

Britain and the United States have opened exploratory talks on a trade agreement. Such an agreement would take effect after Britain officially leaves the European Union.

The withdrawal, known as Brexit, is set for March 29.

Sharp differences have arisen between British and U.S. officials over agricultural issues. Britain is resisting U.S. demands to open its markets to farm products currently banned under EU law.

The most widely reported example is Europe’s import ban on American "chlorinated chicken." In the United States, the meat processing industry washes chickens in chlorine to remove harmful bacteria. Europe says that an over-dependence on chlorine lowers overall production and cleanliness on poultry farms.

U.S. officials are disputing the claim.

Use of artificial growth hormones

The European Union has also banned imports of meat from American cows that have been treated with artificial growth hormones. Natural hormones control growth in animal or plant cells.

American farmers use artificial hormones to increase the size of animals or to increase milk production. But EU officials warn that one commonly used growth hormone may cause cancer. They add there is not enough scientific information on other hormones to approve their use in food.

U.S. officials have made it clear that any future trade deal with Britain must see these food bans dropped.

Former U.S. lawmaker Darrell Issa is President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. government’s Trade and Development Agency. Issa says that the millions of Britons visiting the United States every year enjoy perfectly safe food.

“We’d like to have that arrangement being one in which, in Britain, you can choose to have American chicken, American beef, or other agricultural products, just as you could when you come to the United States. It is a key lynchpin of an agreement. Financial, manufacturing and agriculture have to be free and fair.”

The U.S. ambassador to Britain, Woody Johnson, recently wrote about the issue in Britain’s The Telegraph newspaper. He attacked what he called “myths” over American farming, claiming they are part of an effort to protect the interests of British farmers.

British food quality concerns

Britain has repeatedly said that it will not lower food quality rules after it leaves the EU. In answer to Ambassador Johnson’s comments, British international trade minister Liam Fox said his country would not compromise.

Fox spoke to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

“Will we accept things that we believe are against the interests of our consumers or our producers? No, we won't. It's a negotiation.”

The dispute over American meat imports is also influencing debate over the Irish border, a major issue in Britain’s attempt to cancel its EU membership.

British and EU officials want to avoid border inspections between Northern Ireland, which is part of Britain, and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar recently expressed fears that the border could open a back door into the EU. In other words, EU members might import products that fail to meet their food safety requirements.

Varadkar told reporters, “If at some point in the future the United Kingdom were to allow chlorinated chicken or beef with hormones into their markets, we wouldn't want that coming into our markets or the European Union as well.”

The United States says a trade deal would help British industries, like financial services. And Britain appears interested in strengthening its position in the post-Brexit world as an international trading power.

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Henry Ridgwell reported this story for VOA News. George Grow adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Words in This Story

poultry – adj. chickens or birds raised for their meat

artificial – adj. not natural; produced by someone or something

arrangement – n. the organization of something

myth – n. a belief or tradition about someone or something

lynchpin – n. something that holds together different parts that exist or operate together as one

consumer – n. one that uses products or services

allow – v. to permit

AS IT IS

North Korea Reportedly Rebuilding Structures at Rocket Launch Area

March 06, 2019

The Sohae Satellite Launching Station launch pad features what researchers of Beyond Parallel describe as showing the partly rebuilt rocket transfer structure, in this satellite image taken over Tongchang-ri, North Korea.

North Korea reportedly has rebuilt structures at a rocket launch site that it had begun to take down last year.

That information comes from foreign observers and a South Korean lawmaker who spoke with the South’s spy service.

North Korea had promised to destroy the Tongchang-ri launch site after the June 2018 meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Two Washington-based groups that follow North Korea say some structures at the launch site have been rebuilt in the past three weeks. The two are the Center for Strategic and International Studies and 38 North, a website specializing in North Korea studies. They say satellite images show the structures were rebuilt over the past month.

Also, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers on Tuesday about the rebuilding.

Recently, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano reported that North Korea’s Yongbyon uranium enrichment site is still active. He added that North Korea is continuing work on an experimental light-water reactor at Yongbyon.

On Tuesday, a top U.S. official said the United States would look at increasing sanctions against North Korea if Kim did not end his country’s nuclear weapons program.

"If they're not willing to do it…we'll look at (increasing) those sanctions up, in fact," said National Security Advisor John Bolton.

North Korea’s nuclear sites

Last month, the U.S. president and North Korean leader traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, for more talks. Those meetings collapsed when Trump left the negotiations. He said Kim demanded all sanctions on North Korea end at once in exchange for closing down the Yongbyon nuclear facility. The North Korean government denied making that request.

David Albright is the president of the Institute for Science and International Security and a former nuclear weapons inspector. He said Trump ended the negotiations because the United States knows North Korea can make nuclear weapons at other sites in its country.

“They have enough enrichment facilities outside Yongbyon to make (weapons),” he said.

Jeffrey Lewis is the director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California. “The U.S. government believes there are at least two additional enrichment (facilities),” he said.

Olli Heinonen is a former deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency. He said that North Korea’s enrichment centers are easy to hide because of the kind of technology they use.

Experts agree that North Korea must declare all its nuclear sites and let inspectors into the country to confirm the destruction of the sites.

North Korea launches

Six months ago, South Korean President Moon Jae-in traveled to Pyongyang to meet with the North Korean leader. At those talks, Kim offered to “permanently shut down” the Tongchang-ri engine test ground and launch area, with foreign observers present.

In a statement, the two men described the move as part of a larger effort to make the Korean peninsula free from nuclear weapons. This could suggest that North Korea was confirming the Tongchang-ri site is a nuclear-related center. After several failures, North Korea successfully launched a satellite from the site in 2012. It had another successful launch in 2016.

North Korea says its satellite program is peaceful. Experts say, however, that nuclear missiles and satellite rockets use similar technology.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has ordered his government to do everything in its power to get the North Korean and U.S. leaders talking again.

“I expect that the two leaders will meet again in the near future,” Moon said, adding that he thinks the two will come to an agreement at their next meeting.

I'm Susan Shand.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted the AP reports for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

site – n. the place where something is, was, or will be

facility – n. something (such as a building or large piece of equipment) that is built for a purpose or reason

sanctions – n. an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, or by barring economic aid for that country

enrich – v. to improve the quality of something