VOA标准英语2010-New York Immigrants Protest New Arizona I

A Customs and Border Patrol agent patrols along the international border in Nogales, Arizona, 22 Apr 2010

Immigration-rights activists¹ in New York demonstrated Tuesday against a new law passed in the southwestern state of Arizona. They said it will encourage racial profiling and break up families by permitting the indefinite detention² of suspected undocumented immigrants. And the protestors said it will harm communities by making undocumented immigrants fearful of co-operating with police investigating crimes.

Immigration activists held a lunch-time rally to protest Arizona's new law that is aimed at deporting³ illegal immigrants. They said it would encourage racial profiling by allowing local police to demand to see the immigration papers of anyone whom they suspect of being an undocumented immigrant.

"We are here to denounce the racist⁴ and discriminatory law that was passed in Arizona," said protester Sandy Placido.

The demonstrators also announced a Freedom of Information lawsuit⁵ to force disclosure of the extent of a program called Secure Communities, which partners local police with immigration enforcement in the Department of Homeland Security.

"We see the collusion between local police and the Department of Homeland Security, and the devastating⁶ effect on our families. So what is happening in Arizona is not simply a unique situation. It is just an extension and an outgrowth of a very dangerous trend that we have seen in our country over the last few years," said Angela Fernandez, executive director of the Northern Manhattan Coalition⁷ for Immigrant Rights.

The Arizona law, which was signed into law last Friday, requires police to ask for identification from anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant. Latinos in particular fear that they will be racially targeted by police on the basis of their appearance, and said it will make undocumented immigrants reluctant to report crimes or cooperate in police investigations⁸.

The New York demonstrators, who included activists from Latino, Caribbean, and Asian communities in New York as well as local clergy⁹ members, called on President Obama to act immediately to stop Arizona's law from being implemented¹⁰. They also demanded the President issue a moratorium¹¹ on deportation¹² and detention of suspected illegal aliens until federal immigration reform is passed.

Similar rallies were also held in Arizona, Illinois and California.

In Washington, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano noted¹³ that the law doesn't take effect for 90 days. She told Congress that that would allow time for the Justice Department to, quote, look at whether the law meets constitutional safeguards or not.

Supporters of the law in Arizona say it will help cut down on crime by illegal immigrants from Mexico.
 

1 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》

2 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

3 deporting   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的现在分词 )；举止

参考例句：

4 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

5 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

6 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

7 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。

8 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

9 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

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 moratorium   

n.(行动、活动的)暂停(期)，延期偿付

参考例句：

• The government has called for a moratorium on weapons testing.政府已要求暂停武器试验。
• We recommended a moratorium on two particular kinds of experiments.我们建议暂禁两种特殊的实验。

12 deportation   

n.驱逐，放逐

参考例句：

• The government issued a deportation order against the four men.政府发出了对那4名男子的驱逐令。
• Years ago convicted criminals in England could face deportation to Australia.很多年以前，英国已定罪的犯人可能被驱逐到澳大利亚。

13 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。