感謝中國政法大學(xué)南李、李政、趙巖三位學(xué)弟學(xué)妹翻譯整理了奧巴馬的移民改革演講。我們把它翻譯出來不是為了解析奧巴馬的移民改革政策，他的具體改革措施更多的公布在白宮其后發(fā)布的新聞簡報和國土安全部長的系列命令中。我們?nèi)�文翻譯他的演講，是因為：

　　1. 這個演講體現(xiàn)了很多美國政治家思維上的巧妙和深刻，這種深刻不是無用的理論思辨，而是對簡單現(xiàn)實的認(rèn)知，如“我知道有些批評者說該措施是“大赦”。事實上并非如此，我們現(xiàn)在的移民體系才是“大赦”，即數(shù)百萬人已經(jīng)居住在美國卻不繳納稅款、也不遵守美國法律，而一些政客在選舉時卻還借此嚇唬民眾，以此拉高自己的選票。““我們希望在這個國家生活的人民依法行事，我們不希望那些越界的人反而不公正地得到獎勵。” 再回味一下林肯總統(tǒng)的 “a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” 比任何理論更有穿透力。

　　2. 人性的光輝和美國人因自己的同情心和包容性而產(chǎn)生的自豪感，如“… [大規(guī)模驅(qū)逐非法移民]這種做法不符合我們美國人的一貫作風(fēng)。畢竟，大多數(shù)的移民都已經(jīng)在美國生活了很長一段時間，他們努力工作，常常承擔(dān)著辛苦、低薪的工作。他們支撐著他們的家庭;他們跟我們一樣在教堂里進(jìn)行祈禱;他們的孩子很多是在美國出生或是在美國渡過了自己的絕大多數(shù)時光。他們與我們懷揣著同樣的希望、夢想和愛國心。” “我們是否是一個能夠接受從父母手中搶走孩子這般殘酷事實的國家?還是一個重視家庭，并且致力于讓他們團(tuán)聚的國家呢?” “我們要超越一般的政治;我們需要的是理智的、深刻的、富于同情的辯論，聚焦于我們的希望，而非我們的恐懼。”

　　3.使人們熱愛國家的最好辦法就是公正公平地對待他們，并且使他們有機(jī)會承擔(dān)起對自己國家的責(zé)任，并能夠為自己的孩子創(chuàng)造更好的生活。“我們是一個忍受虛偽制度的國家嗎?在這里工人們?yōu)槲覀儾杉�食物整理房間卻沒有機(jī)會正當(dāng)合法地生活，還是一個能夠給與他們機(jī)會去改正、去承擔(dān)責(zé)任、去為自己的孩子創(chuàng)造更好生活的國家?” “我們必須記住這個爭議所針對的事情意義重大。這關(guān)系到我們是怎樣的國家，以及我們未來想成為什么樣子。”

　　4.如果我們把這篇演講中的“非法移民”換成“社會的弱勢群體”、“臨時工”、“北漂”、“外地打工者”等，演講中的人性關(guān)懷同樣適用。“我們是否是一個遣返像Astrid一樣勤奮、充滿希望的移民的國家?還是一個尋求某種方式歡迎她們的國家?” “我知道這個問題在政治上很艱難。但是讓我告訴大家為什么我對這項政策如此堅定。在過去的幾年里，我看到了移民父親們的堅強(qiáng)意志，他們要承擔(dān)兩到三份工作，不拿政府的一分錢，冒著隨時失去一切的風(fēng)險，只為了為自己的孩子們建造更好地生活。我看到了那些孩子們的心碎和焦慮，她們的母親因為沒有合法身份而可能從她們身邊被帶走。。。這些人們--我們的鄰居、同學(xué)、朋友—他們來到這里并不是想要占便宜或者游手好閑。他們來到這里工作、學(xué)習(xí)或者參軍，尤其重要的是，他們?yōu)槊绹�的成功做出了貢獻(xiàn)。”

　　5.最后，美國的兩黨政治中，任何政治行動都不可避免地包含著政治的計算，但閃耀人性光輝的政治計算遠(yuǎn)高于徹底的虛偽、自私和利益維護(hù)，并激發(fā)社會整體的善良和包容，而不是相反。“圣經(jīng)告訴我們，我們不應(yīng)該壓迫一個陌生人，因為我們懂得陌生人的內(nèi)心，我們也曾是陌生人。”

　　所有這些，正是美國吸引全世界移民的地方。

 

　　以下是奧巴馬移民改革演講原文：

　　My fellow Americans,tonight, I'd like to talk with you about immigration.

　　我的美國同胞們，今晚，我想與你們談?wù)勱P(guān)于移民的問題。

　　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.

　　在過去的200多年中，我們歡迎世界各國移民的傳統(tǒng)，已經(jīng)賦予了我們超越其他國家的優(yōu)勢。這一傳統(tǒng)讓我們有朝氣、有活力、有開創(chuàng)精神。它讓我們成為了一個富有無限可能的民族——我們并不被自己的過去所羈絆，并且能夠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，我們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.

　　那些合法進(jìn)入我們國家并且依法行事的家庭，看到的卻是他人隨意地蔑視法律法規(guī)。那些為工人提供優(yōu)厚待遇的商人，面對的卻是來自用低薪雇傭非法移民的商人的競爭。我們對那些僅僅享受生活在美國的好處但并不承擔(dān)生活在美國的責(zé)任的人感到憤慨。但同時，那些非常希望承擔(dān)社會責(zé)任的非法移民，卻幾乎看不到希望。他們只能繼續(xù)躲在社會的陰暗處，或者承受妻離子散的風(fēng)險。

　　It's been this way for decades. And for decades, we haven't done much about it.

　　這樣的境況已經(jīng)持續(xù)了數(shù)十年。而在過去的數(shù)十年中，我們?yōu)榇烁冻龅呐�力遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不夠。

　　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.

　　在我上任之際，我承諾來修復(fù)這個破損的移民制度。我邁出的我所能做的第一步，是鞏固了我們的邊境線�，F(xiàn)在，我們在南方邊境史無前例地部署了更多的人員、使用了更新的技術(shù)。因此在過去的六年中，非法越境的數(shù)量減少了一半。雖然今年夏天，邊境上逮捕的單獨越境兒童數(shù)量出現(xiàn)了短暫的上升，但是此類兒童的數(shù)量與過去兩年相比，的確降低了許多。整體而言，現(xiàn)在非法入境的人數(shù)已經(jīng)降到了自20世紀(jì)70年代以來的最低水平。這些都是實實在在的事實。

　　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.

　　同時，過去我和國會一道，致力于全面修復(fù)我們的移民制度。去年，68名民主黨、共和黨和無黨派人士齊聚一堂，通過了一個參議院的兩黨提案。這個提案并不是天衣無縫的，它有很多妥協(xié)之處，但它反映的是大眾的常識。提案在將邊境巡邏人員的數(shù)量增加了一倍的同時，如果非法移民支付罰款、開始納稅并且退出國境，我們也為他們提供了一條獲得公民身份的道路。第三方的專家表示，此舉有利于振興我們的經(jīng)濟(jì)并且縮減赤字。

　　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.

　　如果眾議院當(dāng)時就允許對提案進(jìn)行簡單的“是與否”表決，這一提案就會獲得兩黨的共同支持進(jìn)而通過，然后到今天就會成為實實在在的法律。但是至今已過去了一年半的時間，眾議院的共和黨領(lǐng)袖依然拒絕允許對提案進(jìn)行如此簡單的表決。

　　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.

　　現(xiàn)在，我依然相信，解決這個問題的最佳途徑，依然是通力協(xié)作以通過這類常識性的法律。但直到這一天實現(xiàn)之前，我只能利用作為總統(tǒng)所擁有的法律權(quán)力采取措施——這些措施和在我之前的民主黨及共和黨總統(tǒng)采取的措施相似——來讓我們的移民制度更加公平和公正。

　　Tonight, I am announcing those actions.

　　現(xiàn)在，我將宣布這些措施。

　　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，我們將繼續(xù)進(jìn)行我們在邊境上的計劃，為我們的執(zhí)法人員提供更多的資源，這樣他們就能阻斷非法入境的人流，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，正如許多優(yōu)秀的商業(yè)領(lǐng)袖所建議的，我將讓擁有杰出能力的移民、學(xué)生以及企業(yè)家更方便快捷地完成移民工作，讓他們保持我們的經(jīng)濟(jì)水平并為之做出貢獻(xiàn);

　　Third, we'll take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live inour country.

　　第三，我們將負(fù)責(zé)任地逐步解決國內(nèi)現(xiàn)有的數(shù)百萬非法移民。

　　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.

　　就第三個措施我想多說幾句，因為第三個措施最能激化大家的情緒并且引起許多爭議。雖然我們是一個移民國家，但是我們更是一個法治國家。非法入境的人破壞了我們的移民法律，并且我認(rèn)為他們應(yīng)當(dāng)對此負(fù)責(zé)——尤其是那些危險的人。這就是為什么在過去的六年里，罪犯的驅(qū)逐數(shù)量增加了80%。同樣，這也就是為什么，我們將繼續(xù)把執(zhí)法的資源集中在對我們安全的現(xiàn)實威脅上。執(zhí)法資源將繼續(xù)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兒童身上，集中在黑幫成員身上，而不是一個辛苦哺育孩子的母親身上。我們按優(yōu)先程度安排我們的資源，就像執(zhí)法部門每天做的事情一樣。

　　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.

　　但正當(dāng)我們側(cè)重于驅(qū)逐罪犯時，事實的情況卻是，每個州里的不同種族、不同國籍的非法移民，依然非法地居住在這里。而且說實話，要將數(shù)百萬人逐一清查、集中并且驅(qū)逐出境，并不現(xiàn)實。

　　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.

　　任何提出不同說法的人都沒有對你坦誠相告，而且這種做法也不符合我們美國人的一貫作風(fēng)。畢竟，大多數(shù)的移民都已經(jīng)在美國生活了很長一段時間，他們努力工作，常常承擔(dān)著辛苦、低薪的工作。他們支撐著他們的家庭;他們跟我們一樣在教堂里進(jìn)行祈禱;他們的孩子很多是在美國出生或是在美國渡過了自己的絕大多數(shù)時光。他們與我們懷揣著同樣的希望、夢想和愛國心。

　　As my predecessor, President Bush, once put it: "They are a part of American life."

　　正如前任布什總統(tǒng)所說那樣，“他們是美國生活的一份子”。

　　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.

　　現(xiàn)在的情況是這樣的：我們希望在這個國家生活的人民依法行事，我們希望那些赿界的人不會反而不公正地得到獎勵。因此我們準(zhǔn)備實施如下措施：如果你在美國生活超過5年，如果你的小孩是美國公民或合法居民，如果你進(jìn)行了移民登記，通過了犯罪背景審核，而且你愿意繳納應(yīng)繳稅款，你就可以申請在美國臨時居留，不用再擔(dān)心被驅(qū)逐出境。你從陰影中走出來，正當(dāng)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.

　　這就是我們所要采取的措施�，F(xiàn)在我們必須要明確什么是該措施不適用的。該措施不適用于近期才來到美國的移民，也不適用于將來非法來到美國的人。它賦予美國公民資格或是永久停留權(quán)，也不能給予美國公民才能享有的福利--因為只有國會才有權(quán)這樣做。該措施只能讓你免除被驅(qū)逐之憂。

　　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.

　　我知道有些批評者說該措施是“大赦”。事實上并非如此，我們現(xiàn)在的移民體系才是“大赦”，即數(shù)百萬人已經(jīng)居住在美國卻不繳納稅款、也不遵守美國法律，而一些政客在選舉時卻還借此嚇唬民眾，以此拉高自己的選票。

　　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.

　　維持這個殘破不堪的移民系統(tǒng)才是真的“大赦”，群體性的大赦是不公平的，可群體性的驅(qū)逐出境同樣既不現(xiàn)實，也不符合我們的性格。我所提倡的措施體現(xiàn)的是一種責(zé)任，一個常理，也是一條中間道路：如果你符合了上述標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，那么你就可以走出陰影，正當(dāng)合法地生活。如果你是個罪犯，那么你將會受到驅(qū)逐，如果你準(zhǔn)備非法潛入美國，那么你被抓住并被遣返的幾率將大大提高。

　　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.

　　我主張的措施不僅合乎法律，而且在過去的半個世紀(jì)中，也被歷屆共和黨總統(tǒng)及歷屆民主黨總統(tǒng)所使用。那些的國會成員們，他們質(zhì)疑我是否有權(quán)力去改革移民體系，或質(zhì)疑我是否具有這樣的智慧去完成國會失敗了計劃。對此，我只有一個回答:請你們通過一個法案。我非常樂意與兩黨共同協(xié)作，通過一個永久的立法措施。當(dāng)我在法案上署名，將其上升為法律的時候，我所提倡的所有措施都不在有必要了。同時，我希望兩黨對一個問題的異議不要成為今后對其他問題達(dá)成一致的絆腳石。我們的民主制度就是這樣運(yùn)行的，國會當(dāng)然不應(yīng)該僅因為不能達(dá)成共識就采取“政府關(guān)門”的措施。美國人已經(jīng)厭倦這種僵局局面。我們的國家現(xiàn)在更需要的是我們達(dá)成共同的、一個更高尚的目的。

　　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.

　　許多美國人支持我今晚談及的改革方案，但是我也能理解你們中間許多人在家中持有不同的意見�；厮莸皆诿绹�生存的前幾代人，包括我在內(nèi)的數(shù)百萬美國人的祖先都是勤勤懇懇嘔心瀝血的工作才能成為美國的公民。因此，我們很反感有人可以免費(fèi)取得美國公民資格。我理解有些人擔(dān)心移民會改變我們的社會結(jié)構(gòu)，搶走屬于我們的工作，或加重中產(chǎn)階級家庭的負(fù)擔(dān)，他們已經(jīng)覺得這10多年來他們一起被忽視。我知道你們的憂慮，但是我所提倡的措施并不會導(dǎo)致上述問題。歷史和事實告訴我們移民對我國的經(jīng)濟(jì)及社會是絕對的補(bǔ)充。并且我認(rèn)為最重要的是，我們對于此問題的爭論不應(yīng)該建立在對對方特性的責(zé)難上。

　　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.

　　因為在華盛頓所發(fā)生的這些反反復(fù)復(fù)，我們必須記住這個爭議所針對的事情意義重大。這關(guān)系到我們是怎樣的國家，以及我們未來想成為什么樣子。

　　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?

　　我們是一個忍受虛偽制度的國家嗎?在這里工人們?yōu)槲覀儾杉�食物整理房間卻沒有機(jī)會正當(dāng)合法地生活，還是一個能夠給與他們機(jī)會去改正、去承擔(dān)責(zé)任、去為自己的孩子創(chuàng)造更好生活的國家?

　　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?

　　我們是否是一個能夠接受從父母手中搶走孩子這般殘酷事實的國家?還是一個重視家庭，并且致力于讓他們團(tuán)聚的國家呢?

　　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?

　　我們是否是這樣一個國家，在自己的大學(xué)中教育世界上最棒最優(yōu)秀的人，然后將他們送回與我們相競爭的國家創(chuàng)造財富?還是一個鼓勵這些優(yōu)秀的人留下來，在美國的土地上創(chuàng)造工作、商業(yè)機(jī)會以及企業(yè)的國家?

　　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.

　　這正是這次爭論的全部意義所在。當(dāng)涉及移民時，我們要超越一般的政治;我們需要的是理智的、周到的、富于同情的辯論，聚焦于我們的希望，而非我們的恐懼。

　　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.

　　我知道這個問題在政治上很艱難。但是讓我告訴大家為什么我對這項政策如此堅定。在過去的幾年里，我看到了移民父親們的堅強(qiáng)意志，他們要承擔(dān)兩到三份工作，不拿政府的一分錢，冒著隨時失去一切的風(fēng)險，只為了為自己的孩子們建造更好地生活。我看到了那些孩子們的心碎和焦慮，她們的母親因為沒有合法身份而可能從她們身邊被帶走。我看到了那些學(xué)生們的勇氣，如瑪利亞和莎莎，她們與美國人沒有區(qū)別，除了她們出生在不同的地方;還有那些學(xué)生們，他們沒有合法身份卻能勇敢站出來，以希望能對這個他們熱愛的國家有所促進(jìn)。這些人們--我們的鄰居、同學(xué)、朋友--他們來到這里并不是想要占便宜或者游手好閑。他們來到這里工作、學(xué)習(xí)或者參軍，尤其重要的是，他們?yōu)槊绹�的成功做出了貢獻(xiàn)。

　　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，我將去拉斯維加斯和這些學(xué)生們中的一部分人見面，其中包括一名叫做Astrid Silva的年輕女孩，Astrid在四歲的時候被帶到美國，她所有的財產(chǎn)僅僅是一個十字架、她的娃娃以及她身上穿的皺巴巴的裙子。當(dāng)她開始上學(xué)的時候，她不會說任何英語。她通過閱讀報紙以及觀看公共廣播(PBS)趕上其他同學(xué)，最終成為一名好學(xué)生。她的父親在做園林綠化工作，她的母親為他人做房屋清潔工作。她的父母不讓她申報技術(shù)精英中學(xué)，唯恐她會被查出是非法移民，于是她偷偷申請并被錄取。但她仍然生活在陰影中，直到每年都會從墨西哥來看望她的外婆去世，她卻因為可能被發(fā)現(xiàn)被遣送而沒有去參加外婆的葬禮。從那一刻開始，她決定為自己以及像她一樣的人爭取權(quán)利，現(xiàn)在，阿斯特麗德席爾瓦已經(jīng)在大學(xué)里攻讀第三個學(xué)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.

　　我們是否是一個遣返像Astrid一樣勤奮、充滿希望的移民的國家?還是一個尋求某種方式歡迎她們的國家?圣經(jīng)告訴我們，我們不應(yīng)該壓迫一個陌生人，因為我們懂得陌生人的內(nèi)心，我們也曾是陌生人。

　　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.

　　我親愛的美國公民，我們是也將永遠(yuǎn)是一個移民國家。我們也曾經(jīng)是陌生人。不管我們的先人是跨越大西洋、太平洋還是里奧格蘭德，我們能生活在這片土地上是因為這個國家接納了他們，并且教會他們成為美國人不僅僅是我們長得什么樣、或我們姓什么、或我們信仰什么。使我們成為美國人的是我們共享一個理想-- 那就是我們所有人生而平等，而且我們所有人都有機(jī)會去追求我們自己想要的生活。

　　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.

　　這就是我們的父輩，祖輩以及之前的歷代人民為我們創(chuàng)造的國家。這是我們必須傳承的傳統(tǒng)。這是我們?yōu)槟切┘磳⒌絹淼娜肆粝碌呢敻弧?/p>

　　Thank you,God bless you,and God bless this country we love."

　　謝謝!上帝保佑你!上帝保佑我們所愛的國家!