感谢中国政法大学南李、李政、赵岩三位学弟学妹翻译整理了奥巴马的移民改革演讲。我们把它翻译出来不是为了解析奥巴马的移民改革政策,他的具体改革措施更多的公布在白宫其后发布的新闻简报和国土安全部长的系列命令中。我们全文翻译他的演讲,是因为:
1. 这个演讲体现了很多美国政治家思维上的巧妙和深刻,这种深刻不是无用的理论思辨,而是对简单现实的认知,如“我知道有些批评者说该措施是“大赦”。事实上并非如此,我们现在的移民体系才是“大赦”,即数百万人已经居住在美国却不缴纳税款、也不遵守美国法律,而一些政客在选举时却还借此吓唬民众,以此拉高自己的选票。““我们希望在这个国家生活的人民依法行事,我们不希望那些越界的人反而不公正地得到奖励。” 再回味一下林肯总统的 “a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” 比任何理论更有穿透力。
2. 人性的光辉和美国人因自己的同情心和包容性而产生的自豪感,如“… [大规模驱逐非法移民]这种做法不符合我们美国人的一贯作风。毕竟,大多数的移民都已经在美国生活了很长一段时间,他们努力工作,常常承担着辛苦、低薪的工作。他们支撑着他们的家庭;他们跟我们一样在教堂里进行祈祷;他们的孩子很多是在美国出生或是在美国渡过了自己的绝大多数时光。他们与我们怀揣着同样的希望、梦想和爱国心。” “我们是否是一个能够接受从父母手中抢走孩子这般残酷事实的国家?还是一个重视家庭,并且致力于让他们团聚的国家呢?” “我们要超越一般的政治;我们需要的是理智的、深刻的、富于同情的辩论,聚焦于我们的希望,而非我们的恐惧。”
3.使人们热爱国家的最好办法就是公正公平地对待他们,并且使他们有机会承担起对自己国家的责任,并能够为自己的孩子创造更好的生活。“我们是一个忍受虚伪制度的国家吗?在这里工人们为我们采集食物整理房间却没有机会正当合法地生活,还是一个能够给与他们机会去改正、去承担责任、去为自己的孩子创造更好生活的国家?” “我们必须记住这个争议所针对的事情意义重大。这关系到我们是怎样的国家,以及我们未来想成为什么样子。”
4.如果我们把这篇演讲中的“非法移民”换成“社会的弱势群体”、“临时工”、“北漂”、“外地打工者”等,演讲中的人性关怀同样适用。“我们是否是一个遣返像Astrid一样勤奋、充满希望的移民的国家?还是一个寻求某种方式欢迎她们的国家?” “我知道这个问题在政治上很艰难。但是让我告诉大家为什么我对这项政策如此坚定。在过去的几年里,我看到了移民父亲们的坚强意志,他们要承担两到三份工作,不拿政府的一分钱,冒着随时失去一切的风险,只为了为自己的孩子们建造更好地生活。我看到了那些孩子们的心碎和焦虑,她们的母亲因为没有合法身份而可能从她们身边被带走。。。这些人们--我们的邻居、同学、朋友—他们来到这里并不是想要占便宜或者游手好闲。他们来到这里工作、学习或者参军,尤其重要的是,他们为美国的成功做出了贡献。”
5.最后,美国的两党政治中,任何政治行动都不可避免地包含着政治的计算,但闪耀人性光辉的政治计算远高于彻底的虚伪、自私和利益维护,并激发社会整体的善良和包容,而不是相反。“圣经告诉我们,我们不应该压迫一个陌生人,因为我们懂得陌生人的内心,我们也曾是陌生人。”
所有这些,正是美国吸引全世界移民的地方。
以下是奥巴马移民改革演讲原文:
My fellow Americans,tonight, I'd like to talk with you about immigration.
我的美国同胞们,今晚,我想与你们谈谈关于移民的问题。
For more than 200 years, our tradition of welcoming immigrants from around the world has given us a tremendous advantage over other nations. It's kept us youthful, dynamic, and entrepreneurial. It has shaped our character as a people with limitless possibilities-people not trapped by our past, but able to remake ourselves aswe choose.
在过去的200多年中,我们欢迎世界各国移民的传统,已经赋予了我们超越其他国家的优势。这一传统让我们有朝气、有活力、有开创精神。它让我们成为了一个富有无限可能的民族——我们并不被自己的过去所羁绊,并且能够按自己所愿重塑自己。
But today, our immigration system is broken, and everybody knows it.
但是今天,正如大家所知道的,我们的移民制度是破碎的。
Families who enter our country the right way and play by the rules watch others flout the rules. Business owners who offer their workers good wages and benefits see the competition exploit undocumented immigrants by paying them far less. All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America. And undocumented immigrants who desperately want to embrace those responsibilities see little option but to remain in the shadows, or risk their families being torn apart.
那些合法进入我们国家并且依法行事的家庭,看到的却是他人随意地蔑视法律法规。那些为工人提供优厚待遇的商人,面对的却是来自用低薪雇佣非法移民的商人的竞争。我们对那些仅仅享受生活在美国的好处但并不承担生活在美国的责任的人感到愤慨。但同时,那些非常希望承担社会责任的非法移民,却几乎看不到希望。他们只能继续躲在社会的阴暗处,或者承受妻离子散的风险。
It's been this way for decades. And for decades, we haven't done much about it.
这样的境况已经持续了数十年。而在过去的数十年中,我们为此付出的努力远远不够。
When I took office, I committed to fixing this broken immigration system. And I began by doing what I could to secure our borders. Today, we have more agents and technology deployed to secure our southern border than at any time in our history. And over the past six years, illegal border crossings have been cut by more than half. Although this summer,there was a brief spike in unaccompanied children being apprehended at our border, the number of such children is now actually lower than it's been in nearly two years. Overall, the number of people trying to cross our border illegally is at its lowest level since the 1970s. Those are the facts.
在我上任之际,我承诺来修复这个破损的移民制度。我迈出的我所能做的第一步,是巩固了我们的边境线。现在,我们在南方边境史无前例地部署了更多的人员、使用了更新的技术。因此在过去的六年中,非法越境的数量减少了一半。虽然今年夏天,边境上逮捕的单独越境儿童数量出现了短暂的上升,但是此类儿童的数量与过去两年相比,的确降低了许多。整体而言,现在非法入境的人数已经降到了自20世纪70年代以来的最低水平。这些都是实实在在的事实。
Meanwhile, I worked with Congresson a comprehensive fix, and last year, 68 Democrats,Republicans, and Independents came together to pass a bipartisan bill in the Senate. It wasn't perfect. It was a compromise, but it reflected common sense. It would have doubled the number of border patrol agents, while giving undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship if they paid a fine, started paying their taxes, and went to the back of the line. And independent experts said that it would help grow our economy and shrink our deficits.
同时,过去我和国会一道,致力于全面修复我们的移民制度。去年,68名民主党、共和党和无党派人士齐聚一堂,通过了一个参议院的两党提案。这个提案并不是天衣无缝的,它有很多妥协之处,但它反映的是大众的常识。提案在将边境巡逻人员的数量增加了一倍的同时,如果非法移民支付罚款、开始纳税并且退出国境,我们也为他们提供了一条获得公民身份的道路。第三方的专家表示,此举有利于振兴我们的经济并且缩减赤字。
Had the House of Representatives allowed that kind of a billa simple yes-or-no vote, it would have passed with support from both parties,and today it would be the law. But for a year and a half now, Republican leaders in the House have refused to allow that simple vote.
如果众议院当时就允许对提案进行简单的“是与否”表决,这一提案就会获得两党的共同支持进而通过,然后到今天就会成为实实在在的法律。但是至今已过去了一年半的时间,众议院的共和党领袖依然拒绝允许对提案进行如此简单的表决。
Now, I continue to believe that the best way to solve this problem is by working together to pass that kind of common sense law.But until that happens, there are actions I have the legal authority to take as President- the same kinds of actions taken by Democratic and Republican Presidentsbefore me-that will help make our immigration system more fair and more just.
现在,我依然相信,解决这个问题的最佳途径,依然是通力协作以通过这类常识性的法律。但直到这一天实现之前,我只能利用作为总统所拥有的法律权力采取措施——这些措施和在我之前的民主党及共和党总统采取的措施相似——来让我们的移民制度更加公平和公正。
Tonight, I am announcing those actions.
现在,我将宣布这些措施。
First, we'll build on our progress at the border with additional resources for our law enforcement personnel sothat they can stem the flow of illegal crossings, and speed the return of those who do cross over.
首先,我们将继续进行我们在边境上的计划,为我们的执法人员提供更多的资源,这样他们就能阻断非法入境的人流,并且提高遣返非法入境者的效率;
Second, I will make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants,graduates,and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy, as so many business leaders have proposed.
第二,正如许多优秀的商业领袖所建议的,我将让拥有杰出能力的移民、学生以及企业家更方便快捷地完成移民工作,让他们保持我们的经济水平并为之做出贡献;
Third, we'll take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live inour country.
第三,我们将负责任地逐步解决国内现有的数百万非法移民。
I want to say more about this third issue, because it generates the most passion and controversy. Even as we are a nation of immigrants, we are also a nation of laws. Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws,and I believe that they must be held accountable -especially those who may be dangerous. That's why,over the past six years, deportations of criminals are up 80 percent. And that's why we're going to keep focusing enforcement resources on actual threats to our security. Felons,not families. Criminals,not children. Gang members,not a mother who's working hard to provide for her kids. We'll prioritize, just like law enforcement does every day.
就第三个措施我想多说几句,因为第三个措施最能激化大家的情绪并且引起许多争议。虽然我们是一个移民国家,但是我们更是一个法治国家。非法入境的人破坏了我们的移民法律,并且我认为他们应当对此负责——尤其是那些危险的人。这就是为什么在过去的六年里,罪犯的驱逐数量增加了80%。同样,这也就是为什么,我们将继续把执法的资源集中在对我们安全的现实威胁上。执法资源将继续集中在重刑犯身上而不是家庭身上,集中在罪犯身上而不是儿童身上,集中在黑帮成员身上,而不是一个辛苦哺育孩子的母亲身上。我们按优先程度安排我们的资源,就像执法部门每天做的事情一样。
But even as we focus on deporting criminals, the fact is, millions of immigrants - in every state,of every race and nationality - will still live here illegally. And let's be honest - tracking down, rounding up, and deporting millions of people isn't realistic.
但正当我们侧重于驱逐罪犯时,事实的情况却是,每个州里的不同种族、不同国籍的非法移民,依然非法地居住在这里。而且说实话,要将数百万人逐一清查、集中并且驱逐出境,并不现实。
Anyone who suggests otherwise isn't being straight with you. It's also not who we are as Americans. After all, most of these immigrants have been here a long time. They work hard, often in tough, low-paying jobs. They support their families. They worship at our churches.Many of their kids are American-born or spent most of their lives here, and their hopes,dreams, and patriotism are just like ours.
任何提出不同说法的人都没有对你坦诚相告,而且这种做法也不符合我们美国人的一贯作风。毕竟,大多数的移民都已经在美国生活了很长一段时间,他们努力工作,常常承担着辛苦、低薪的工作。他们支撑着他们的家庭;他们跟我们一样在教堂里进行祈祷;他们的孩子很多是在美国出生或是在美国渡过了自己的绝大多数时光。他们与我们怀揣着同样的希望、梦想和爱国心。
As my predecessor, President Bush, once put it: "They are a part of American life."
正如前任布什总统所说那样,“他们是美国生活的一份子”。
Now here's the thing: we expect people who live in this country to play by the rules. We expect that those who cut the line will not be unfairly rewarded. So we're going to offer the following deal:If you've been in Americafor more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens orlegal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you're willing to pay your fair share of taxes - you'll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily,without fear of deportation.You can come out of the shadows and get right with the law.
现在的情况是这样的:我们希望在这个国家生活的人民依法行事,我们希望那些赿界的人不会反而不公正地得到奖励。因此我们准备实施如下措施:如果你在美国生活超过5年,如果你的小孩是美国公民或合法居民,如果你进行了移民登记,通过了犯罪背景审核,而且你愿意缴纳应缴税款,你就可以申请在美国临时居留,不用再担心被驱逐出境。你从阴影中走出来,正当合法地生活。
That's what this deal is.Now let's be clear about what it isn't. This deal does not apply to anyone who has come to this country recently.It does not apply to anyone who might come to America illegally in the future.It does not grant citizenship,or the right to stay here permanently,or offer the same benefits that citizens receive-only Congress can do that.All we're saying is we're not going to deport you.
这就是我们所要采取的措施。现在我们必须要明确什么是该措施不适用的。该措施不适用于近期才来到美国的移民,也不适用于将来非法来到美国的人。它赋予美国公民资格或是永久停留权,也不能给予美国公民才能享有的福利--因为只有国会才有权这样做。该措施只能让你免除被驱逐之忧。
I know some of the critics of this action call it amnesty.Well,it's not.Amnesty is the immigration system we have today-millions of people who live here without paying their taxes or playing by the rules,while politicians use the issue to scare people and whip up votes at election time.
我知道有些批评者说该措施是“大赦”。事实上并非如此,我们现在的移民体系才是“大赦”,即数百万人已经居住在美国却不缴纳税款、也不遵守美国法律,而一些政客在选举时却还借此吓唬民众,以此拉高自己的选票。
That's the real amnesty - leaving this broken system the way it is.Mass amnesty would be unfair.Mass deportation would be both impossible and contrary to our character.What I'm describing is accountability-a commonsense,middleground approach:If you meet the criteria,you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law.If you're a criminal,you'll be deported.If you planto enter the U.S.illegally,your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up.
维持这个残破不堪的移民系统才是真的“大赦”,群体性的大赦是不公平的,可群体性的驱逐出境同样既不现实,也不符合我们的性格。我所提倡的措施体现的是一种责任,一个常理,也是一条中间道路:如果你符合了上述标准,那么你就可以走出阴影,正当合法地生活。如果你是个罪犯,那么你将会受到驱逐,如果你准备非法潜入美国,那么你被抓住并被遣返的几率将大大提高。
The actions I'm taking are not only lawful,they're the kinds of actions taken by every single Republican President and every single Democratic President for the past half century.And to those Members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better,or questionthe wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed,I have one answer: Pass a bill.I want to work with both parties to pass a more permanent legislative solution.And the day I sign that bill into law,the actions I take will no longer be necessary.Meanwhile,don't let a disagreement over a single issue be a dealbreaker on every issue.That's not how our democracy works, and Congress certainly shouldn't shut down our government again just because we disagree on this.Americans are tired of gridlock.What our country needs from us right now is a common purpose-a higher purpose.
我主张的措施不仅合乎法律,而且在过去的半个世纪中,也被历届共和党总统及历届民主党总统所使用。那些的国会成员们,他们质疑我是否有权力去改革移民体系,或质疑我是否具有这样的智慧去完成国会失败了计划。对此,我只有一个回答:请你们通过一个法案。我非常乐意与两党共同协作,通过一个永久的立法措施。当我在法案上署名,将其上升为法律的时候,我所提倡的所有措施都不在有必要了。同时,我希望两党对一个问题的异议不要成为今后对其他问题达成一致的绊脚石。我们的民主制度就是这样运行的,国会当然不应该仅因为不能达成共识就采取“政府关门”的措施。美国人已经厌倦这种僵局局面。我们的国家现在更需要的是我们达成共同的、一个更高尚的目的。
Most Americans support the types of reforms I've talked about tonight.But I understand the disagreements held by many of you at home.Millions of us,myself included,go back generations in this country,with ancestors who put in the painstaking work to become citizens.So we don't like the notion that anyone might get a free pass to American citizenship.I know that some worry immigration will change the very fabric of who we are,or take our jobs, orstick it to middle-class families at a time when they already feel like they'vegotten the raw end of the deal for over a decade.I hear these concerns. But that's not what these steps would do.Our history and the facts show that immigrants are a net plus for our economy and our society.And I believe it's important that all of us have this debate without impugning each other's character.
许多美国人支持我今晚谈及的改革方案,但是我也能理解你们中间许多人在家中持有不同的意见。回溯到在美国生存的前几代人,包括我在内的数百万美国人的祖先都是勤勤恳恳呕心沥血的工作才能成为美国的公民。因此,我们很反感有人可以免费取得美国公民资格。我理解有些人担心移民会改变我们的社会结构,抢走属于我们的工作,或加重中产阶级家庭的负担,他们已经觉得这10多年来他们一起被忽视。我知道你们的忧虑,但是我所提倡的措施并不会导致上述问题。历史和事实告诉我们移民对我国的经济及社会是绝对的补充。并且我认为最重要的是,我们对于此问题的争论不应该建立在对对方特性的责难上。
Because for all the back-and-forth of Washington,we have to remember that this debate is about something bigger.It's about who we are as a country,and who we want to be for future generations.
因为在华盛顿所发生的这些反反复复,我们必须记住这个争议所针对的事情意义重大。这关系到我们是怎样的国家,以及我们未来想成为什么样子。
Are we a nation that tolerates the hypocrisy of asystem where workers who pick our fruit and make our beds never have a chanceto get right with the law?Or are we a nation that gives them a chance to make amends,take responsibility,and give their kids a better future?
我们是一个忍受虚伪制度的国家吗?在这里工人们为我们采集食物整理房间却没有机会正当合法地生活,还是一个能够给与他们机会去改正、去承担责任、去为自己的孩子创造更好生活的国家?
Are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents'arms?Or are we a nation that values families,and works to keep them together?
我们是否是一个能够接受从父母手中抢走孩子这般残酷事实的国家?还是一个重视家庭,并且致力于让他们团聚的国家呢?
Are we a nation that educates the world's best and brightest in our universities,only to send them home to create businesses in countries that compete against us? Or are we a nation that encourages them to stay and create jobs,businesses,and industries right here in America?
我们是否是这样一个国家,在自己的大学中教育世界上最棒最优秀的人,然后将他们送回与我们相竞争的国家创造财富?还是一个鼓励这些优秀的人留下来,在美国的土地上创造工作、商业机会以及企业的国家?
That's what this debate is all about.We need more than politics as usual when it comes to immigration;we need reasoned,thoughtful,compassionate debate that focuses on our hopes,not our fears.
这正是这次争论的全部意义所在。当涉及移民时,我们要超越一般的政治;我们需要的是理智的、周到的、富于同情的辩论,聚焦于我们的希望,而非我们的恐惧。
I know the politics of this issue are tough.But let me tell you why I have come to feel so strongly about it.Over the past few years,I have seen the determination of immigrant fathers who worked two or three jobs,without taking a dime from the government,and at risk at anymoment of losing it all,just to build a better life for their kids.I've seen the heartbreak and anxiety of children whose mothers might be taken away from them just because they didn't have the right papers.I've seen the courage of students who,except for the circumstances of their birth,are as American as Malia or Sasha;students who bravely come out as undocumented in hopes they could make a difference in a country they love.These people - our neighbors,our classmates,our friends-they did not come here in search of a free ride or an easy life. They came to work, and study, and serve in our military,and above all,contribute to America's success.
我知道这个问题在政治上很艰难。但是让我告诉大家为什么我对这项政策如此坚定。在过去的几年里,我看到了移民父亲们的坚强意志,他们要承担两到三份工作,不拿政府的一分钱,冒着随时失去一切的风险,只为了为自己的孩子们建造更好地生活。我看到了那些孩子们的心碎和焦虑,她们的母亲因为没有合法身份而可能从她们身边被带走。我看到了那些学生们的勇气,如玛利亚和莎莎,她们与美国人没有区别,除了她们出生在不同的地方;还有那些学生们,他们没有合法身份却能勇敢站出来,以希望能对这个他们热爱的国家有所促进。这些人们--我们的邻居、同学、朋友--他们来到这里并不是想要占便宜或者游手好闲。他们来到这里工作、学习或者参军,尤其重要的是,他们为美国的成功做出了贡献。
Tomorrow,I'll travel to Las Vegas and meet withsome of these students,including a young woman named Astrid Silva. Astrid wasbrought to America when she was four years old. Her only possessions were across,her doll, and the frilly dress she had on. When she started school, she didn't speak any English. She caught up to the other kids by reading newspapersand watching PBS, and became a good student. Her father worked in landscaping.Her mother cleaned other people's homes. They wouldn't let Astrid apply to atechnology magnet school for fear the paperwork would out her as an undocumented immigrant-so she applied behind their back and got in. Still,she mostly lived in the shadows-until her grandmother, who visited every yearfrom Mexico, passed away, and she couldn't travel to the funeral without risk of being found out and deported. It was around that time she decided to begin advocating for herself and others like her, and today, Astrid Silva is a college student working on her third degree.
明天,我将去拉斯维加斯和这些学生们中的一部分人见面,其中包括一名叫做Astrid Silva的年轻女孩,Astrid在四岁的时候被带到美国,她所有的财产仅仅是一个十字架、她的娃娃以及她身上穿的皱巴巴的裙子。当她开始上学的时候,她不会说任何英语。她通过阅读报纸以及观看公共广播(PBS)赶上其他同学,最终成为一名好学生。她的父亲在做园林绿化工作,她的母亲为他人做房屋清洁工作。她的父母不让她申报技术精英中学,唯恐她会被查出是非法移民,于是她偷偷申请并被录取。但她仍然生活在阴影中,直到每年都会从墨西哥来看望她的外婆去世,她却因为可能被发现被遣送而没有去参加外婆的葬礼。从那一刻开始,她决定为自己以及像她一样的人争取权利,现在,阿斯特丽德席尔瓦已经在大学里攻读第三个学位了。
Are we a nation that kicks out a striving,hopeful immigrant like Astrid-or are we a nation that finds a way to welcome her in? Scripture tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger-we were strangers once,too.
我们是否是一个遣返像Astrid一样勤奋、充满希望的移民的国家?还是一个寻求某种方式欢迎她们的国家?圣经告诉我们,我们不应该压迫一个陌生人,因为我们懂得陌生人的内心,我们也曾是陌生人。
My fellow Americans,we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once,too. And whether our forebears were strangers who crossed the Atlantic, or the Pacific, or the Rio Grande,we are here only because this country welcomed them in, and taught them that to bean American is about something more than what we look like, or what our last names are, or how we worship. What makes us Americans is our shared commitment to an ideal-that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will.
我亲爱的美国公民,我们是也将永远是一个移民国家。我们也曾经是陌生人。不管我们的先人是跨越大西洋、太平洋还是里奥格兰德,我们能生活在这片土地上是因为这个国家接纳了他们,并且教会他们成为美国人不仅仅是我们长得什么样、或我们姓什么、或我们信仰什么。使我们成为美国人的是我们共享一个理想-- 那就是我们所有人生而平等,而且我们所有人都有机会去追求我们自己想要的生活。
That's the country our parents and grandparents and generations before them built for us.That's the tradition we must uphold.That's the legacy we must leave for those who are yet to come.
这就是我们的父辈,祖辈以及之前的历代人民为我们创造的国家。这是我们必须传承的传统。这是我们为那些即将到来的人留下的财富。
Thank you,God bless you,and God bless this country we love."
谢谢!上帝保佑你!上帝保佑我们所爱的国家!
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