美新移民政策：有人欢喜有人忧

Washington is buzzing following an announcement by President Barack Obama's administration that the U.S. now will focus its deportation efforts on illegal immigrants with criminal records or those who pose a threat to national security. The new rules also outline ways for those facing deportation, but having no criminal record, to remain in the U.S. and even apply for a work permit.

在奥巴马政府宣布美国将把遣返非法移民的主要关注点放在那些拥有犯罪记录或者对美国国家安全构成威胁的非法移民身上之后，华盛顿的舆论炸开了锅。这项新规定还提到那些面临遣返，但是没有犯罪记录的非法移民如何才能继续留在美国，甚至申请工作许可。

Advocates, while celebrating the news, said they would press the president for even more pro-immigration action. Opponents, including many Republican lawmakers, called it a massive amnesty plan.

移民活动人士尽管庆祝这个消息，但是同时表示，将继续向奥巴马总统施压，让他采取更加亲移民的行动。包括很多共和党议员在内的反对者，则称这项规定是大规模的赦免计划。

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said her agency will review all of the 300,000 cases pending in immigration courts, but the new focus will be deporting criminals and serious violators of immigration law. Undocumented immigrants classified as low-priority could see their deportation stayed and be offered a chance to apply for a work visa.

美国土安全部部长纳波利塔诺表示，她的机构将审查在移民法庭待审的所有30万个案子，但是新的工作重点将放在遣返那些犯罪分子和严重违反移民法律的人。被列为较后处理的非法移民可以看到对他们的遣返暂停，并将得到机会申请工作签证。

Pro-immigration activists immediately lauded the move. Gustavo Torres is Executive Director of Casa de Maryland, a group that advocates for immigrants.

支持移民活动人士立即对这个举措表示欢迎。移民权益团体Casa de Maryland的执行主任托雷斯说：

“They are going to pretty much allow people who are undocumented here, making a contribution in this great nation, to keep doing that, so that is the reason we are very happy about that decision,” said Torres.

“他们将更加允许非法居住在美国的人们，为这个伟大的国家做出贡献。他们会继续这样做。这就是我们对这个决定非常高兴的原因。”

Napolitano told senators in a letter Thursday that the Obama administration repeatedly has said it makes no sense to expend enforcement resources on low-priority cases.

国土安全部纳波利塔诺部长8月18日星期四致函国会参议员说，奥巴马政府已经多次表示，把执法资源放在较后处理的案子上是不合理的。

The announcement angered some Republican lawmakers and others who oppose illegal immigration. They say Obama has simply overstepped his bounds.

奥巴马政府宣布这个规定，激怒了一些共和党的议员以及其他反对非法移民的人士。他们说，奥巴马总统越权操作。

Ira Mehlman is with FAIR, the Federation for American Immigration Reform. He expects Congress, especially the Republican-dominated U.S. House of Representatives, will challenge the President.

来自美国移民改革联合会的梅尔曼预计国会，尤其是共和党主导下的众议院，将挑战奥巴马总统。