VOA标准英语2010年-Obama Calls For US Immigration Reform

President Barack Obama outlines the need for immigration policy overhaul¹ during a speech at the American University School of International Service in Washington, 01 Jul 2010

Mr. Obama says the U.S. immigration system is "broken and dangerous," and the country's borders are too vast for the problem to be solved only by building more fences.

"In sum, the system is broken, and everybody knows it," he said.  "Unfortunately, reform has been held hostage to political posturing² and special-interest wrangling³, and to the pervasive⁴ sentiment in Washington that tackling such a thorny⁵ and emotional issue is inherently bad politics," Mr. Obama added.

Speaking at American University's School of International Service, the president made his first major appeal for a comprehensive reform of the nation's immigration policies.

 

He did not announce any new initiatives on the issue, but called overhauling⁶ the U.S. immigration system "a moral imperative⁷."

White House officials say the president's decision to speak about the issue was influenced by several factors, including the state of Arizona's recent passage of a tough law against illegal immigrants.

Mr. Obama said inaction at the federal level has led to what he considers a bad law. 

"Into this breach⁸, states like Arizona have decided⁹ to take matters into their own hands.  Given the levels of frustration¹⁰ across the country, this is understandable.  But it is also ill-conceived," he said.

The new law has been met with protests around the country, although polls show that a majority of Americans questioned support it.

In his campaign for president, Mr. Obama promised to reform the U.S. immigration system, and some critics are demanding that he speed the process.

Shortly after the president spoke¹¹, religious leaders demonstrated outside the White House, calling for an overhaul to be passed this year.

Rabbi Michael Feingold, who works with immigrant and low-wage workers in New York, applauded Mr. Obama's speech, but said words are not enough. "The way the system is now works for no one.  It doesn't work for the immigrants themselves, it doesn't work for the government and it doesn't even work for some employers. So it's clear there's an absolute need to fix that," he said.

The president said a comprehensive solution is needed for America's immigration problem. 

He sought to reassure¹² those who want to get tough on illegal migrants that he does not support giving amnesty to people who are in the United States against the law.

A home-made sign urges residents to vote yes on a proposed municipal ordinance¹³ that would ban hiring or renting property to illegal immigrants in the city of Fremont, Nebraska, 21 Jun 2010

"Ultimately, our nation, like all nations, has the right and obligation to control its borders and set laws for residency and citizenship," he said.  "And no matter how decent they are, no matter their reasons, the 11 million who broke these laws should be held accountable."

Mr. Obama also reassured¹⁴ pro-immigrant groups he has no intention of trying to round up and deport¹⁵ those who are in the country illegally.

"They know it is not possible.  Such an effort would be logistically impossible and wildly expensive.  Moreover, it would tear at the very fabric¹⁶ of this nation," said the president.

Mr. Obama urged U.S. lawmakers to have the political courage to address an important issue.

Despite the president's appeal, members of Congress, many of whom are seeking re-election in November, are not likely to take up the controversial issue of immigration reform this year.

 

1 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

2 posturing   

做出某种姿势( posture的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She was posturing a model. 她正在摆模特儿的姿势。
• She says the President may just be posturing. 她说总统也许只是在做样子而已。

3 wrangling   

v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. 双方大部分时间都在围绕程序问题争论不休。 来自辞典例句
• The children were wrangling (with each other) over the new toy. 孩子为新玩具（互相）争吵。 来自辞典例句

4 pervasive   

adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的

参考例句：

• It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
• The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。

5 thorny   

adj.多刺的，棘手的

参考例句：

• The young captain is pondering over a thorny problem.年轻的上尉正在思考一个棘手的问题。
• The boys argued over the thorny points in the lesson.孩子们辩论功课中的难点。

6 overhauling   

n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越

参考例句：

• I had no chance of overhauling him. 我没有赶上他的可能。 来自辞典例句
• Some sites need little alterations but some need total overhauling. 有些网站需要做出细微修改，而有些网站就需要整体改版。 来自互联网

7 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

8 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

9 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

10 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

11 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

12 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

13 ordinance   

n.法令；条令；条例

参考例句：

• The Ordinance of 1785 provided the first land grants for educational purposes.1785年法案为教育目的提供了第一批土地。
• The city passed an ordinance compelling all outdoor lighting to be switched off at 9.00 PM.该市通过一条法令强令晚上九点关闭一切室外照明。

14 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 deport   

vt.驱逐出境

参考例句：

• We deport aliens who slip across our borders.我们把偷渡入境的外国人驱逐出境。
• More than 240 England football fans are being deported from Italy following riots last night.昨晚的骚乱发生后有240多名英格兰球迷被驱逐出意大利。

16 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。