VOA标准英语2008年-Border Patrol Program Improves Security on US-M

Arrests of illegal aliens along the US/Mexico border have increased over the past year according to records of the US Department of Homeland Security. The records show a 73 percent increase in arrests and prosecutions¹ over the past year. Officials attribute the increase to Operation Streamline², through which illegal entrants are charged with a misdemeanor crime, prosecuted³ and sent to jail. The program began in the US Border Patrol's Del Rio sector⁴ more than two years ago and, as VOA's Greg Flakus reports from Del Rio, it appears to have worked.
　
U.S. Border Patrol agents at Fort Hancock, Texas, 01 May 2008

The rugged⁵ terrain⁶ on this section of the border was once a favored area for both human and drug smugglers. Before December 2005, Mexicans caught here by the Border Patrol were sent back across the border right away and citizens of other nations (OTMs) were released after being assigned a court date, for which very few of them ever showed up.

But under Operation Streamline any foreigner caught without documents here is arrested and faces, on average, a month-long jail sentence before being sent home. Border Patrol agent Mark Qualia says the increase in arrests and incarcerations has led to a significant drop in illegal border crossings.

"On Mexican apprehensions⁷ we are down 32 percent from when we initially⁸ started Operation Streamline and then 63 percent on the other than Mexicans, the OTMs," he noted⁹.

Qualia says the same zero-tolerance approach is now being implemented¹⁰ elsewhere along the 3,000 kilometer border.

He says US citizens living along the border near Del Rio have expressed relief as the flow of immigrants and drug smugglers slows.

”Ranchers in the community have made several comments. Their fences are not as torn up. They don't see the traffic they used to see," he added. "So as a whole people are extremely pleased with what Operation Streamline has brought to this community."

But both illegal aliens and drug smugglers have another option here, water.

Just upstream from the town of Del Rio is a bi-national dam that holds back water from the Rio Grande and two other rivers to form the 263 square-kilometer reservoir called Lake Amistad.

The Border Patrol has its own little navy here, consisting of six patrol boats and a number of smaller craft. Agent Mark Nunez overseas some of the boat operations.

"We watch traffic that is coming in and out through here and, hopefully, if we see any kind of traffic that is coming in then we go ahead and intercept¹¹ and inspect," he said.

Buoys¹² mark the line between US and Mexican waters. Smugglers often position themselves in a cove¹³ in Mexican waters to begin their run across the lake to designated areas where they quickly offload the drugs for counterparts on the other side to retrieve¹⁴. Nunez says constant patrols have made it harder for the traffickers.

"We have put a dent¹⁵ in some of their drug operations based on some of the operations we have been able to do out here with the boat," he added. "We have intensified¹⁶ the patrol and try to get as much patrol time out here as possible."

But Nunez says drug smugglers are not always easy to catch.

"Some of these boats are pretty quick and they are quicker than the patrol boats that we have," he noted.

The Border Patrol has asked for increased funds to buy faster boats in a never-ending effort to keep up with the smugglers whose operations are well funded by their illicit¹⁷ enterprises.

 

1 prosecutions   

起诉( prosecution的名词复数 )； 原告； 实施； 从事

参考例句：

• It is the duty of the Attorney-General to institute prosecutions. 检察总长负责提起公诉。
• Since World War II, the government has been active in its antitrust prosecutions. 第二次世界大战以来，政府积极地进行着反对托拉斯的检举活动。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

2 streamline   

vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化

参考例句：

• We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
• Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。

3 prosecuted   

a.被起诉的

参考例句：

• The editors are being prosecuted for obscenity. 编辑因刊载污秽文字而被起诉。
• The company was prosecuted for breaching the Health and Safety Act. 这家公司被控违反《卫生安全条例》。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

6 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

7 apprehensions   

疑惧

参考例句：

• He stood in a mixture of desire and apprehensions. 他怀着渴望和恐惧交加的心情伫立着。
• But subsequent cases have removed many of these apprehensions. 然而，随后的案例又消除了许多类似的忧虑。

8 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

11 intercept   

vt.拦截，截住，截击

参考例句：

• His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
• Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。

12 buoys   

n.浮标( buoy的名词复数 )；航标；救生圈；救生衣v.使浮起( buoy的第三人称单数 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神

参考例句：

• The channel is marked by buoys. 航道有浮标表示。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Often they mark the path with buoys. 他们常常用浮标作为航道的标志。 来自辞典例句

13 cove   

n.小海湾，小峡谷

参考例句：

• The shore line is wooded,olive-green,a pristine cove.岸边一带林木蓊郁，嫩绿一片，好一个山外的小海湾。
• I saw two children were playing in a cove.我看到两个小孩正在一个小海湾里玩耍。

14 retrieve   

vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索

参考例句：

• He was determined to retrieve his honor.他决心恢复名誉。
• The men were trying to retrieve weapons left when the army abandoned the island.士兵们正试图找回军队从该岛撤退时留下的武器。

15 dent   

n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展

参考例句：

• I don't know how it came about but I've got a dent in the rear of my car.我不知道是怎么回事，但我的汽车后部有了一个凹痕。
• That dent is not big enough to be worth hammering out.那个凹陷不大，用不着把它锤平。

16 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。