VOA标准英语2012--Californians React to Supreme Court Immigration Ruling

 

Californians React to Supreme¹ Court Immigration Ruling

The court ruled that three parts of SB 1070, the Arizona law aimed at illegal aliens, were infringements² by the state on federal authority over immigration. But it kept in place a controversial provision that requires police to check the immigration status of those they stop for other reasons, if the police suspect they are in the country illegally.

Workers at a day labor³ center in Los Angeles watched the debate closely. They are California residents, so the law does not affect them. But day worker Saul Linas says he fears the Arizona law is part of a national trend.

“I feel bad because it is something that is happening to my people, Latin people," he said. "And I feel bad because this is something that should not be happening. There should be equality for everyone, for everyone who is here, working.”

Those who enter the country illegally are subject to deportation⁴ by federal authorities.

Aaron Pineda, 36, was brought to Los Angeles as an infant. He has no immigration papers and worries about being deported⁵ to Mexico.

“Like they’re sending me to a foreign land. I don’t want to go to Mexico," Pineda lamented⁶. "My wife, my six kids are here. They’re all attending school, they’re getting good grades. And it’s just messed up; they want to send me to Mexico. I’ve got nothing in Mexico.”

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer⁷ says her state's law is now in effect, although without the provisions struck down by the Supreme Court.

"The court upheld the ability of the local law enforcement to assist the federal government in immigration laws, meaning they have the authority under reasonable suspicion to question someone who has already been apprehended⁸ to certify⁹ whether they are, have legal status in Arizona," Brewer announced.

UCLA Astronomer¹⁰ Benjamin Zuckerman worries about the effects of population growth on the environment and uncontrolled immigration on the nation. He belongs to a group called Californians for Population Stabilization¹¹.

“With 20 million or so unemployed¹² Americans now, many of whom are people of color, black Americans and Hispanic Americans, either citizens or people here legally, we really don’t want to see large numbers of people coming into the country illegally because they’re competing with people who are here already and who need jobs,” he said.

Both sides of the debate look to the federal government to resolve the issue of the millions of people who are already in the United States illegally. 

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 infringements   

n.违反( infringement的名词复数 )；侵犯，伤害

参考例句：

• It'seems to me we've got to decide on wider issues than possible patent infringements. 我认为我们不能只考虑侵犯专利可能性这一问题，要对更大的一些问题做出决策。 来自企业管理英语口语（第二版）(2)
• Wikipedia relies on its users to correct errors and spot copyright infringements. 维基百科主要依靠用户来纠正错误，并发现版权侵权行为。 来自互联网

3 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。

4 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。

5 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》

6 lamented   

adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• her late lamented husband 她那令人怀念的已故的丈夫
• We lamented over our bad luck. 我们为自己的不幸而悲伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

8 apprehended   

逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解

参考例句：

• She apprehended the complicated law very quickly. 她很快理解了复杂的法律。
• The police apprehended the criminal. 警察逮捕了罪犯。

9 certify   

vt.证明，证实；发证书(或执照)给

参考例句：

• I can certify to his good character.我可以证明他品德好。
• This swimming certificate is to certify that I can swim one hundred meters.这张游泳证是用以证明我可以游100米远。

10 astronomer   

n.天文学家

参考例句：

• A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
• He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

11 Stabilization   

稳定化

参考例句：

• The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
• With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。

12 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。