Homeland Security Official Praises New US Visitors Screening

Homeland Security Official Praises New US Visitors Screening Program

Barbara Schoetzau

U.S. Homeland Security officials say the new photo and fingerprint¹ system for foreign visitors, implemented³ this week, is working well.

Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson of the Department of Homeland Security told reporters in New York the U.S.-VISIT program is making legitimate⁴ travel easier and is already blocking entry to violators of U.S. laws.

U.S.-VISIT, short for the U.S.-Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator⁵ Technology program, uses biometric technology to match the fingerprints⁶ and photographs of visitors who are required to have visas with information filed at U.S. consulates⁸ abroad. Mr. Hutchinson says the quick digital checks are being used to build "trusted" traveler profiles.

"It will minimize the secondary questions that are asked of you because we will be able to biometrically identify you as the same traveler who came in last month and complied with your visa. We will welcome you and say you've got a great track record, come right on through."

The program does not apply to citizens from 28 mostly European nations who are not required to have visas to enter the United States. Mr. Hutchinson says almost 84,000 international visitors have entered the United States using the program since it went into effect Monday at 115 airports and 14 seaports⁹. So far, he says the program has turned up 30 individuals who are either on "watch" lists or using fraudulent documents. For example, Mr. Hutchinson says Wednesday night a visitor from El Salvador presented what appeared to be proper documentation at New York's Kennedy Airport.

"Whenever we took his biometric fingerscan, it came up as a 'hit' in our system. And, This gentleman, we learned, entered the country illegally in 1996. He was working in this country. He used false documents to leave and come back. He indicated that he entered the country 12 times in the last year, all under false documents. He had actually committed some minor¹⁰ criminal offenses¹¹ while here. But he was biometrically identified and removed."

Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson says he expects many other nations to follow the United States' lead by putting similar programs in place to ensure greater security for travelers and counter terrorism.

 

 

注释：

fingerprint [5fIN^EprInt] n. 指纹，手印

implement² [5implimEnt] vt. 使生效，实施

undersecretary [5QndE5sekritEri] n. 副部长

the Department of Homeland Security  国土安全部

legitimate [li5dVitimit] adj. 合法的

U.S.-Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology  美国访客和移民身份显示技术

biometric technology  生物技术

visa [5vi:zE] n. 签证

file [fail] vt. 把……归档

consulate⁷ [5kCnsjulit] n. 领事馆

profile [5prEufail] n. 侧面像，外形

comply with  照做，遵循

turn up  发现，出现

fraudulent [5frC:djulEnt] adj. 假冒的，欺骗性的

El Salvador [el5sAlvEdC:] n. 萨尔瓦多，中美洲与大西洋接壤的一国家。发现于1523年，该地区1821年从西班牙独立出来。圣萨尔瓦多是其首都也是最大城市。

documentation [7dCkjumen5teiFEn] n. 证件，文件

fingerscan  指纹扫描

document [5dCkjumEnt] n. 证件

counter [5kaJntE(r)] vt 对抗

1 fingerprint   

n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹

参考例句：

• The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
• The court heard evidence from a fingerprint expert.法院听取了指纹专家的证词。

2 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

3 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

4 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。

5 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

6 fingerprints   

n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Everyone's fingerprints are unique. 每个人的指纹都是独一无二的。
• They wore gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints behind (them). 他们戴着手套，以免留下指纹。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

8 consulates   

n.领事馆( consulate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Consulates General of The People's Republic at Los Angeles. 中华人民共和国驻洛杉矶总领事馆。 来自互联网
• The country's embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions stationed in other countries. （七）家驻外使馆、馆和其他外交代表机构。 来自互联网

9 seaports   

n.海港( seaport的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Airports have joined seaports as ports of entry for the visiting foreigner. 机场和海港一样成为来访的外国人的入境关口。 来自互联网
• Sanya has 16 seaports, 10 islands and 180km of coastline. 三亚有16个港口、10个海岛和180公里的海岸线。 来自互联网

10 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

11 offenses   

n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势

参考例句：

• It's wrong of you to take the child to task for such trifling offenses. 因这类小毛病责备那孩子是你的不对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Thus, Congress cannot remove an executive official except for impeachable offenses. 因此，除非有可弹劾的行为，否则国会不能罢免行政官员。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法