奥巴马演讲视频：奥巴马在拉斯维加斯就全面改革移民政策发表演讲

Del Sol High School, Las Vegas, Nevada, 11:40 A.M. PST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you! (Applause.) Thank you! Thank you so much. (Applause.) It is good to be back in Las Vegas! (Applause.) And it is good to be among so many good friends.

Let me start off by thanking everybody at Del Sol High School for hosting us. (Applause.) Go Dragons! Let me especially thank your outstanding principal, Lisa Primas. (Applause.)

There are all kinds of notable guests here, but I just want to mention a few. First of all, our outstanding Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, is here. (Applause.) Our wonderful Secretary of the Interior, Ken 1 Salazar. (Applause.) Former Secretary of Labor 2, Hilda Solis. (Applause.) Two of the outstanding members of the congressional delegation 3 from Nevada, Steve Horsford and Dina Titus. (Applause.) Your own mayor, Carolyn Goodman. (Applause.)

But we also have some mayors that flew in because they know how important the issue we're going to talk about today is. Marie Lopez Rogers from Avondale, Arizona. (Applause.) Kasim Reed from Atlanta, Georgia. (Applause.) Greg Stanton from Phoenix 4, Arizona. (Applause.) And Ashley Swearengin from Fresno, California. (Applause.)

And all of you are here, as well as some of the top labor leaders in the country. And we are just so grateful. Some outstanding business leaders are here as well. And of course, we've got wonderful students here, so I could not be prouder of our students. (Applause.)

Now, those of you have a seat, feel free to take a seat. I don't mind.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you, Mr. President!

THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.)

Now, last week, I had the honor of being sworn in for a second term as President of the United States. (Applause.) And during my inaugural 6 address, I talked about how making progress on the defining challenges of our time doesn't require us to settle every debate or ignore every difference that we may have, but it does require us to find common ground and move forward in common purpose. It requires us to act.

I know that some issues will be harder to lift than others. Some debates will be more contentious 7. That's to be expected. But the reason I came here today is because of a challenge where the differences are dwindling 8; where a broad consensus 9 is emerging; and where a call for action can now be heard coming from all across America. I'm here today because the time has come for common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform. (Applause.) The time is now. Now is the time. Now is the time. Now is the time.

AUDIENCE: Sí se puede! Sí se puede!

THE PRESIDENT: Now is the time.

I'm here because most Americans agree that it's time to fix a system that's been broken for way too long. I'm here because business leaders, faith leaders, labor leaders, law enforcement, and leaders from both parties are coming together to say now is the time to find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as the land of opportunity. Now is the time to do this so we can strengthen our economy and strengthen our country's future.

Think about it -- we define ourselves as a nation of immigrants. That's who we are -- in our bones. The promise we see in those who come here from every corner of the globe, that's always been one of our greatest strengths. It keeps our workforce 10 young. It keeps our country on the cutting edge. And it's helped build the greatest economic engine the world has ever known.

After all, immigrants helped start businesses like Google and Yahoo!. They created entire new industries that, in turn, created new jobs and new prosperity for our citizens. In recent years, one in four high-tech 11 startups in America were founded by immigrants. One in four new small business owners were immigrants, including right here in Nevada -- folks who came here seeking opportunity and now want to share that opportunity with other Americans.

But we all know that today, we have an immigration system that's out of date and badly broken; a system that's holding us back instead of helping 12 us grow our economy and strengthen our middle class.

Right now, we have 11 million undocumented immigrants in America; 11 million men and women from all over the world who live their lives in the shadows. Yes, they broke the rules. They crossed the border illegally. Maybe they overstayed their visas. Those are facts. Nobody disputes them. But these 11 million men and women are now here. Many of them have been here for years. And the overwhelming majority of these individuals aren't looking for any trouble. They're contributing members of the community. They're looking out for their families. They're looking out for their neighbors. They're woven into the fabric 13 of our lives.

Every day, like the rest of us, they go out and try to earn a living. Often they do that in a shadow economy -- a place where employers may offer them less than the minimum wage or make them work overtime 14 without extra pay. And when that happens, it's not just bad for them, it's bad for the entire economy. Because all the businesses that are trying to do the right thing -- that are hiring people legally, paying a decent wage, following the rules -- they're the ones who suffer. They've got to compete against companies that are breaking the rules. And the wages and working conditions of American workers are threatened, too.

So if we're truly committed to strengthening our middle class and providing more ladders of opportunity to those who are willing to work hard to make it into the middle class, we've got to fix the system.

We have to make sure that every business and every worker in America is playing by the same set of rules. We have to bring this shadow economy into the light so that everybody is held accountable -- businesses for who they hire, and immigrants for getting on the right side of the law. That's common sense. And that's why we need comprehensive immigration reform. (Applause.)

There's another economic reason why we need reform. It's not just about the folks who come here illegally and have the effect they have on our economy. It's also about the folks who try to come here legally but have a hard time doing so, and the effect that has on our economy.

Right now, there are brilliant students from all over the world sitting in classrooms at our top universities. They're earning degrees in the fields of the future, like engineering and computer science. But once they finish school, once they earn that diploma, there's a good chance they'll have to leave our country. Think about that.

Intel was started with the help of an immigrant who studied here and then stayed here. Instagram was started with the help of an immigrant who studied here and then stayed here. Right now in one of those classrooms, there's a student wrestling with how to turn their big idea -- their Intel or Instagram -- into a big business. We're giving them all the skills they need to figure that out, but then we're going to turn around and tell them to start that business and create those jobs in China or India or Mexico or someplace else? That's not how you grow new industries in America. That's how you give new industries to our competitors. That's why we need comprehensive immigration reform. (Applause.)

Now, during my first term, we took steps to try and patch up some of the worst cracks in the system.

First, we strengthened security at the borders so that we could finally stem the tide of illegal immigrants. We put more boots on the ground on the southern border than at any time in our history. And today, illegal crossings are down nearly 80 percent from their peak in 2000. (Applause.)

Second, we focused our enforcement efforts on criminals who are here illegally and who endanger our communities. And today, deportations of criminals is at its highest level ever. (Applause.)

And third, we took up the cause of the DREAMers -- (applause) -- the young people who were brought to this country as children, young people who have grown up here, built their lives here, have futures 15 here. We said that if you're able to meet some basic criteria 16 like pursuing an education, then we'll consider offering you the chance to come out of the shadows so that you can live here and work here legally, so that you can finally have the dignity of knowing you belong.

But because this change isn't permanent, we need Congress to act -- and not just on the DREAM Act. We need Congress to act on a comprehensive approach that finally deals with the 11 million undocumented immigrants who are in the country right now. That's what we need. (Applause.)

Now, the good news is that for the first time in many years, Republicans and Democrats 17 seem ready to tackle this problem together. (Applause.) Members of both parties, in both chambers 18, are actively 19 working on a solution. Yesterday, a bipartisan group of senators announced their principles for comprehensive immigration reform, which are very much in line with the principles I've proposed and campaigned on for the last few years. So at this moment, it looks like there's a genuine desire to get this done soon, and that's very encouraging.

But this time, action must follow. (Applause.) We can't allow immigration reform to get bogged 20 down in an endless debate. We've been debating this a very long time. So it's not as if we don't know technically 21 what needs to get done. As a consequence, to help move this process along, today I'm laying out my ideas for immigration reform. And my hope is that this provides some key markers to members of Congress as they craft a bill, because the ideas I'm proposing have traditionally been supported by both Democrats like Ted 5 Kennedy and Republicans like President George W. Bush. You don't get that matchup very often. (Laughter.) So we know where the consensus should be.

Now, of course, there will be rigorous debate about many of the details, and every stakeholder should engage in real give and take in the process. But it's important for us to recognize that the foundation for bipartisan action is already in place. And if Congress is unable to move forward in a timely fashion, I will send up a bill based on my proposal and insist that they vote on it right away. (Applause.)

So the principles are pretty straightforward 22. There are a lot of details behind it. We're going to hand out a bunch of paper so that everybody will know exactly what we're talking about. But the principles are pretty straightforward.

First, I believe we need to stay focused on enforcement. That means continuing to strengthen security at our borders. It means cracking down more forcefully on businesses that knowingly hire undocumented workers. To be fair, most businesses want to do the right thing, but a lot of them have a hard time figuring out who's here legally, who's not. So we need to implement 23 a national system that allows businesses to quickly and accurately 24 verify someone's employment status. And if they still knowingly hire undocumented workers, then we need to ramp 25 up the penalties.

Second, we have to deal with the 11 million individuals who are here illegally. We all agree that these men and women should have to earn their way to citizenship 26. But for comprehensive immigration reform to work, it must be clear from the outset that there is a pathway to citizenship. (Applause.)

We've got to lay out a path -- a process that includes passing a background check, paying taxes, paying a penalty, learning English, and then going to the back of the line, behind all the folks who are trying to come here legally. That's only fair, right? (Applause.)

So that means it won't be a quick process but it will be a fair process. And it will lift these individuals out of the shadows and give them a chance to earn their way to a green card and eventually to citizenship. (Applause.)

And the third principle is we've got to bring our legal immigration system into the 21st century because it no longer reflects the realities of our time. (Applause.) For example, if you are a citizen, you shouldn't have to wait years before your family is able to join you in America. You shouldn't have to wait years. (Applause.)

If you're a foreign student who wants to pursue a career in science or technology, or a foreign entrepreneur who wants to start a business with the backing of American investors 27, we should help you do that here. Because if you succeed, you'll create American businesses and American jobs. You'll help us grow our economy. You'll help us strengthen our middle class.

So that's what comprehensive immigration reform looks like: smarter enforcement; a pathway to earned citizenship; improvements in the legal immigration system so that we continue to be a magnet for the best and the brightest all around the world. It's pretty straightforward.

The question now is simple: Do we have the resolve as a people, as a country, as a government to finally put this issue behind us? I believe that we do. I believe that we do. (Applause.) I believe we are finally at a moment where comprehensive immigration reform is within our grasp.

But I promise you this: The closer we get, the more emotional this debate is going to become. Immigration has always been an issue that enflames passions. That's not surprising. There are few things that are more important to us as a society than who gets to come here and call our country home; who gets the privilege of becoming a citizen of the United States of America. That's a big deal.

When we talk about that in the abstract, it's easy sometimes for the discussion to take on a feeling of "us" versus 28 "them." And when that happens, a lot of folks forget that most of "us" used to be "them." We forget that. (Applause.)

It's really important for us to remember our history. Unless you're one of the first Americans, a Native American, you came from someplace else. Somebody brought you. (Applause.)

Ken Salazar, he's of Mexican American descent, but he points that his family has been living where he lives for 400 years, so he didn't immigrate 29 anywhere. (Laughter.)

The Irish who left behind a land of famine. The Germans who fled persecution 30. The Scandinavians who arrived eager to pioneer out west. The Polish. The Russians. The Italians. The Chinese. The Japanese. The West Indians. The huddled 31 masses who came through Ellis Island on one coast and Angel Island on the other. (Applause.) All those folks, before they were "us," they were "them."

And when each new wave of immigrants arrived, they faced resistance from those who were already here. They faced hardship. They faced racism 32. They faced ridicule 33. But over time, as they went about their daily lives, as they earned a living, as they raised a family, as they built a community, as their kids went to school here, they did their part to build a nation.

They were the Einsteins and the Carnegies. But they were also the millions of women and men whose names history may not remember, but whose actions helped make us who we are; who built this country hand by hand, brick by brick. (Applause.) They all came here knowing that what makes somebody an American is not just blood or birth, but allegiance to our founding principles and the faith in the idea that anyone from anywhere can write the next great chapter of our story.

And that's still true today. Just ask Alan Aleman. Alan is here this afternoon -- where is Alan? He's around here -- there he is right here. (Applause.) Alan was born in Mexico. (Applause.) He was brought to this country by his parents when he was a child. Growing up, Alan went to an American school, pledged allegiance to the American flag, felt American in every way -- and he was, except for one: on paper.

In high school, Alan watched his friends come of age -- driving around town with their new licenses 34, earning some extra cash from their summer jobs at the mall. He knew he couldn't do those things. But it didn't matter that much. What mattered to Alan was earning an education so that he could live up to his God-given potential.

Last year, when Alan heard the news that we were going to offer a chance for folks like him to emerge from the shadows -- even if it's just for two years at a time -- he was one of the first to sign up. And a few months ago he was one of the first people in Nevada to get approved. (Applause.) In that moment, Alan said, "I felt the fear vanish. I felt accepted."

So today, Alan is in his second year at the College of Southern Nevada. (Applause.) Alan is studying to become a doctor. (Applause.) He hopes to join the Air Force. He's working hard every single day to build a better life for himself and his family. And all he wants is the opportunity to do his part to build a better America. (Applause.)

So in the coming weeks, as the idea of reform becomes more real and the debate becomes more heated, and there are folks who are trying to pull this thing apart, remember Alan and all those who share the same hopes and the same dreams. Remember that this is not just a debate about policy. It's about people. It's about men and women and young people who want nothing more than the chance to earn their way into the American story.

Throughout our history, that has only made our nation stronger. And it's how we will make sure that this century is the same as the last: an American century welcoming of everybody who aspires 35 to do something more, and who is willing to work hard to do it, and is willing to pledge that allegiance to our flag.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

 

点击收听单词发音  






1
ken

  
 


n.视野，知识领域


参考例句：





Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.












2
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。












3
delegation

  
 


n.代表团；派遣


参考例句：





The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。












4
phoenix

  
 


n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生


参考例句：





The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。












5
ted

  
 


vt.翻晒，撒，撒开


参考例句：





The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。












6
inaugural

  
 


adj.就职的；n.就职典礼


参考例句：





We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。












7
contentious

  
 


adj.好辩的，善争吵的


参考例句：





She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。












8
dwindling

  
 


adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )


参考例句：





The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句












9
consensus

  
 


n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识


参考例句：





Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？












10
workforce

  
 


n.劳动大军，劳动力


参考例句：





A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。












11
high-tech

  
 


adj.高科技的


参考例句：





The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。












12
helping

  
 


n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的


参考例句：





The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。












13
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。












14
overtime

  
 


adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地


参考例句：





They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。












15
futures

  
 


n.期货，期货交易


参考例句：





He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。












16
criteria

  
 


n.标准


参考例句：





The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。












17
democrats

  
 


n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )


参考例句：





The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》












18
chambers

  
 


n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅


参考例句：





The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网












19
actively

  
 


adv.积极地，勤奋地


参考例句：





During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。












20
bogged

  
 


adj.陷于泥沼的v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的过去式和过去分词 )；妨碍，阻碍


参考例句：





The professor bogged down in the middle of his speech. 教授的演讲只说了一半便讲不下去了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
The tractor is bogged down in the mud. 拖拉机陷入了泥沼。 来自《简明英汉词典》












21
technically

  
 


adv.专门地，技术上地


参考例句：





Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。












22
straightforward

  
 


adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的


参考例句：





A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。












23
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。












24
accurately

  
 


adv.准确地，精确地


参考例句：





It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。
Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。












25
ramp

  
 


n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速


参考例句：





That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。












26
citizenship

  
 


n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)


参考例句：





He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。












27
investors

  
 


n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )


参考例句：





a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会












28
versus

  
 


prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下


参考例句：





The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。












29
immigrate

  
 


v.（从外国）移来，移居入境


参考例句：





10,000 people are expected to immigrate in the next two years.接下来的两年里预计有10，000人会移民至此。
Only few plants can immigrate to the island.只有很少的植物能够移植到这座岛上。












30
persecution

  
 


n. 迫害,烦扰


参考例句：





He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。












31
huddled

  
 


挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）


参考例句：





We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。












32
racism

  
 


n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)


参考例句：





He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。












33
ridicule

  
 


v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄


参考例句：





You mustn't ridicule unfortunate people.你不该嘲笑不幸的人。
Silly mistakes and queer clothes often arouse ridicule.荒谬的错误和古怪的服装常会引起人们的讪笑。












34
licenses

  
 


n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )


参考例句：





Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句












35
aspires

  
 


v.渴望，追求( aspire的第三人称单数 )


参考例句：





The fame to which he aspires was beyond his reach. 他追求的名誉乃是他所不能及的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand li. 老骥伏枥，志在千里。 来自《简明英汉词典》