VOA标准英语2010年-Obama Signs $600 Million Border Securi

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, joined by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs (L) meets with reporters in the White House, 13 Aug 2010, for briefing on the Southwest Border Security Bill

U.S. President Barack Obama has signed a $600 million border security bill into law.  The law will send more law enforcement agents and equipment to the U.S./Mexico border.

 

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the large infusion¹ of resources at the border will help make the United States more secure.

"The legislation adds permanent resources that will continue to bolster² security along the Southwest border, supporting our efforts to crack down on transnational criminal organizations and reduce the trafficking of people, drugs, currency and weapons," she said.

Secretary Napolitano briefed reporters at the White House Friday on the new law.  She said the additional money will pay for 1,000 more border patrol agents, more customs officers, more intelligence analysts³ to fight drug smuggling⁴ and violence, new communications equipment, and two unmanned surveillance planes to operate along the border.

Napolitano said that even before Friday's bill signing, the Obama administration had devoted⁵ more resources to the U.S./Mexico border than at any other point in American history.

"These efforts are making a difference, and they are the reason why everything that is supposed to be going up is going up, and everything that is supposed to be going down is going down," Napolitano said.

She said those efforts have reduced illegal border crossings and led to more removals of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.

Immigration is one of the main issues in many of this year's elections for the U.S. Congress and state governors.

The Southwestern state of Arizona enacted⁶ a controversial law in April to require police to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws, and to require immigrants to carry their immigration documents at all times.  A judge has put those provisions on hold.

Supporters of the Arizona law say it is needed because the federal government has not done its job in fighting illegal immigration and crime related to it.

The bill signed by the president on Friday passed both houses of Congress this week, in an unusual August session.

Secretary Napolitano thanked lawmakers from both parties for supporting the effort.

"…and demonstrates that the border is not and should not be a political issue.  It is a matter of national security, in which we all, both parties, have a stake," she added.

The homeland security chief joined with other administration officials in calling for comprehensive reform of national immigration policy.

 

1 infusion   

n.灌输

参考例句：

• Old families need an infusion of new blood from time to time.古老的家族需要不时地注入新鲜血液。
• Careful observation of the infusion site is necessary.必须仔细观察输液部位。

2 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

5 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

6 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹