2006年VOA标准英语-Some US Employers Complain of Shortage of Immig

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
18 October 2006

The United States is a nation of immigrants.  Most come legally, but some 11 million to 12 million people may have entered the country illegally, many from Mexico.  As enforcement efforts are strengthened along the border, some employers complain that a shortage of immigrant workers is hurting their industries.

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Immigrant farm workers 
  
This family farm near San Diego, and others like it, are suffering from intensified¹ security at the border. 

The farm relies on immigrant workers, who pick and sort the produce.  Heightened border security after the terrorist attacks of 2001 caused the farm to lose three-quarters of its workforce².  Federal officials discovered the workers' documents were forged.

Luawanna Hallstrom is the granddaughter of the farm's founder³, an immigrant from India.  She says many farms in California have lost half their workers.

 
Luawanna Hallstrom
  
"You do have some workers that have stayed here for fear of leaving, probably because they believe that they could not get back in for their jobs, and so they give up going back to their families, which socially creates all kinds of problems. But the majority of them [who used to come] are not even coming into the country," she noted⁴.

The family turned to a government program that brings temporary workers from other countries, but Hallstrom says the process is cumbersome⁵. 

One man from Mexico says it is good for him. He says the wages are good.  He can make here in one day what it takes a week to earn in Mexico, and can return to his family there in the off-season.

Others say in an age of terrorism, the United States must secure its borders, and that those in the country illegally should be deported⁶.

At a recent public meeting, local officials complained about the cost of public services for illegal immigrants.

 
Tony Stoltz
  
Other community members offered their viewpoints.  Tony Stolz is one of the founders⁷ of a controversial group called the Minutemen, which stands watch near the border.  He is also entering politics, running for the California assembly.

An immigrant from Cuba, he says illegal immigration hurts other immigrants.

"The first to lose their jobs are the low-skilled workers and legal immigrants - first, second-generation immigrants," he noted.  "It is just not fair.  It impacts on Hispanics."

Others say illegal immigrants contribute to the economy, accepting jobs that Americans will not take.

 
Pro-immigrant protesters in Los Angeles
  
A recent protest outside Los Angeles hotels demanded legalization and better wages for undocumented workers.

The demonstration⁸ drew supporters from churches, community groups, and labor⁹ unions.

All immigrants face the same challenges.  At Los Angeles City College, they struggle with the language.

Many who entered the country legally are working toward citizenship¹⁰.

Those who have entered illegally face the risk of deportation¹¹.

Jose Aguirre of Tijuana is staying at a Catholic Charities shelter near San Diego.  He says Latin Americans like him are willing to work hard. 

"We come to this country only for working, to do the work that Americans do not like.  That is why we need this country," he said.  "We love this country.  And this country needs us."

In Washington, the debate rages on over border security, the need for immigrant workers, and the problem of the millions now in the country illegally.

President Bush and many in Congress want a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for undocumented workers.  Others say the priority should be security, and enforcing existing immigration laws.

1 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》

2 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

3 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

4 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。

5 cumbersome   

adj.笨重的，不便携带的

参考例句：

• Although the machine looks cumbersome,it is actually easy to use.尽管这台机器看上去很笨重，操作起来却很容易。
• The furniture is too cumbersome to move.家具太笨，搬起来很不方便。

6 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

8 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

9 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

10 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

11 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。