VOA慢速英语--美国设立假大学诱捕签证诈骗犯

AS IT IS 2016-04-07 US Uses Fake University to Stop Visa Fraud 美国设立假大学诱捕签证诈骗犯

United States officials say 21 people were arrested for their reported involvement in a plot to help foreign nationals stay in the country illegally.

The program enabled over 1,000 foreigners to remain in the US by claiming to work at or attend a university that does not exist.

Officials say those arrested knew that the University of Northern New Jersey¹ had no teachers, classes or programs. But the defendants² did not know it was created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help fight visa fraud.

Paul Fishman is the federal government’s top attorney for New Jersey. He told reporters that individuals and companies that help foreigners request visas began contacting the fake university soon after its creation in 2013.

The Associated Press news agency reported that some defendants paid the federal agents operating the university thousands of dollars. In return, they received documents that showed students were attending classes or working for the school.

This enabled the foreigners to keep their visas without attending classes. The students paid the visa brokers⁴ thousands of dollars for their help.

The plot affected⁵ foreign nationals from more than 20 countries. But most of them were from India and China. They had entered the United States legally using non-immigrant, student visas. But they wanted to stay in the U.S. longer, either by having their student visas extended or by being given work visas.

U.S. Attorney Fishman said the government knows who these people are. He said they will be investigated by federal immigration officers, but not charged in the case. Most of them will be forced to leave the country.

One law enforcement official told The New York Times newspaper that some of the students used the illegally-given work visas to get jobs at Facebook and Apple. ABC News reported that another student with an illegal visa entered the Army.

Government officials told The New York Times that most of the 1.2 million foreigners who entered the U.S. using student visas are attending legitimate⁶ universities. But there have been reports of student visa fraud across the country. This has caused immigration officials to worry about the country’s security. They have been pressured to fully⁷ investigate those who seek visas to see if they have links to terrorism.

Words in This Story

fraud - n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person

fake - adj. meant to look real or genuine but not real or genuine

broker³ - n. a person who helps other people to reach agreements or to make deals

legitimate - adj. real, accepted or official

1 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

2 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

3 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

4 brokers   

n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• The firm in question was Alsbery & Co., whiskey brokers. 那家公司叫阿尔斯伯里公司，经销威士忌。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• From time to time a telephone would ring in the brokers' offices. 那两排经纪人房间里不时响着叮令的电话。 来自子夜部分

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。