美国国家公共电台 NPR Fear Of Deportation Spurs 4 Women To Drop Domestic Abuse Cases In Denver

 

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

President Trump's talk about cracking down on undocumented immigrants has scared a lot of people living in the country illegally. We've heard stories about immigrants afraid to venture out of their homes any more than necessary, people staying away from church or school.

Denver City Attorney Kristin Bronson has noticed another effect. Women who are victims of domestic violence are afraid to appear in court. They're scared of being spotted¹ by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Bronson understands ICE is going after violent criminals. She says she just wants them to arrest them somewhere else. Kristin Bronson joins us now from her office in Denver. Thanks so much for being with us.

KRISTIN BRONSON: Thanks for having me.

MARTIN: What can you tell us about these women? You say four of them have not pursued claims because they're afraid of outing themselves as undocumented.

BRONSON: That's correct. These are four women who were the victims of violent offenses² here in Denver. We had pending³ cases that we were prosecuting⁴ on their behalf. And since January 25, the date of the president's executive order, those four women have let our office know they were not willing to proceed with the case for fear that they would be spotted in the courthouse and deported⁵.

MARTIN: May I ask, how serious were the crimes they were reporting?

BRONSON: These are assaults, assault by strangulation. They don't result in significant bodily injury, but they are physical and violent.

MARTIN: These women are saying they're afraid that they could be spotted by an agent from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an ICE officer. Have you seen evidence that substantiates⁶ these fears?

BRONSON: We had a video that went viral that was taken here in our Denver courthouses of ICE officers engaging in an enforcement action in the hallways and, unfortunately, has resulted in a high degree of fear and anxiety in our immigrant communities. And as a result, we have grave concerns here that they distrust the court system now and that we're not going to have continued cooperation of victims and witnesses.

MARTIN: And just so I'm clear, is it just this one case that was captured on video that has created all this fear?

BRONSON: We've been in communication with our county court judges, and we are aware of other instances where ICE has either been in the courtroom or in the hallways. But I have, personally, have not seen them myself.

MARTIN: This one video - were the ICE officers just around and then happened to notice a guy they were looking for?

BRONSON: My understanding is that that particular individual they had targeted had been the subject, as I understand it, of multiple felony arrests in the past.

MARTIN: Do the ICE agents know when certain cases are coming up?

BRONSON: I really couldn't speak to what ICE knows, but I can say that criminal court dockets are public records. And they are accessible through our public docket system.

MARTIN: Have you asked ICE agents to stay away from the courthouse?

BRONSON: Yes. We have made that request. Federal guidelines from Homeland Security recognize schools and churches, hospitals as sensitive areas, and we think courthouses should be recognized as well.

MARTIN: And finally, just - what's the status of those cases that the women had filed?

BRONSON: Well, without victims willing to testify, we've had to dismiss those charges. And the violent offenders⁷ have seen no consequences for their violent acts.

MARTIN: Denver City Attorney Kristin Bronson, thanks so much for talking with us.

BRONSON: Thank you.

MARTIN: We should note an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson told us ICE does make arrests at courthouses, but it's generally only after exhausting other options.

1 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

2 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

3 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

4 prosecuting   

检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师

参考例句：

• The witness was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel. 证人接受控方律师的盘问。
• Every point made by the prosecuting attorney was telling. 检查官提出的每一点都是有力的。

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 substantiates   

v.用事实支持（某主张、说法等），证明，证实( substantiate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Confirms or establishes authenticity; substantiates. 确认真实性；证实。 来自互联网
• The painting substantiates the feelings of the artist. 这幅画表达了这位画家的情感。 来自互联网

7 offenders   

n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
• Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。