Thousands of supporters of immigration reform rallied in the nation's capital on Sunday, voicing their frustration with the government's pace of handling the complex issue. The gathering was both a serious and lively gathering that brought together politicians, labor representatives and religious leaders to try to push the issue back on to the table.
数以千计支持移民改革的人士星期天在首都华盛顿集会，对政府处理移民案件的速度表示失望。这次活动既严肃又生动，汇聚了政治人士、劳工代表、宗教领袖等，试图共同推动这个议题能够得以重新讨论。
Many participants at the rally waved American flags and held signs that were written in both Spanish and English.
参加集会的人们挥舞美国国旗、高举用英语和西班牙语写的标语。
Some had stark messages such as "Reform Immigration Before Others Die." Others carried signs that read: "Change Takes Courage."
一些人的标语牌非常醒目，上面写着“赶快改革，不要把人拖死”，还有标语写着“改革需要勇气”。
On a massive stage and in crowds, participants of the "March for America" urged U.S. President Barack Obama to follow through on his promise to overhaul the immigration system.
在一个搭建起来的巨型讲台上的人士和台下聚集的人群都是“为美国行进”这一活动的参与者。他们督促美国总统奥巴马实现全面改革移民体系的诺言。
Leyda Lopez came to Sunday's rally with her mother who entered the country illegally from Equador nearly two decades ago. Leyda says she is concerned about the state of the immigration reform debate.
"It's a lost, because like the president is saying he is going to do something and he never do it, we are waiting for that," she said. "And we want justice."
她说：“这是一个失败，因为总统说过他会(在移民方面)做出改变，但是他至今什么也没做。我们要求正义。”
Leyda's mother, Mely, says that because of her status, she has been unable to return to Equador to see the rest of her family for 18 years.
莱达的母亲说，因为身份问题她这18年来都不能回厄瓜多尔探望她的家人。
Mely says that while the push for immigration reform is difficult, it should not be impossible. She says that those who are here illegally want to be legalized.
这位母亲说，尽管推动移民改革困难重重，但不应该是不可能的。她说，在美国的非法移民希望获得合法身份。
Yulmi Rock, a middle-aged worker who came to the rally with other members of his family says many who have come to the United States are professionals who just want to work for this country and make a contribution.
尤尔米.洛克是一名中年劳工，他和家里其他人都来参加这次集会。他说，很多来美国的人都是专业人员，他们就是希望在这里工作，为美国作贡献。
Yulmi says many work 15-16 hours a day, holding two jobs and are underpaid because they are undocumented. He says frequently they are taken advantage of and exploited and that is not just.
他说：“很多人每天工作十五、六个小时，做两份工作，收入比别人低，就是因为他们没有身份。这些人还经常受到不公正的对待，成为别人剥削的对象，这非常不公平。”
Immigration reform failed in Congress in 2006 and 2007 and President Obama promised to make the issue a top priority during his first year in office.
移民改革2006和2007年在国会都没有通过，奥巴马总统承诺在他任期的第一年把将这个问题作为当务之急。
However, since stepping into office last January, Mr. Obama's agenda has been overwhelmed by the issue of health care reform, the economy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
可是，自从奥巴马去年1月就任总统以来，他的日程一直被医疗改革、经济衰退、伊拉克和阿富汗战争等问题所占据。
The president addressed participants at the rally in a video message, pledging to work together with Congress this year and fix what he called the United States "broken immigration system."
奥巴马通过视频向集会的人群发出信息，保证今年和国会一道解决他所称的美国的“漏洞百出的移民制度”。
Mr. Obama said that some of problems with the system include families being torn apart, employers gaming the system and the struggles police officers face trying to keep communities safe.
奥巴马说，这个体系中的一些问题包括家庭离散、雇主利用移民政策钻空子、以及警察为努力保护社区安全所面临的困难。
Just last week, Mr. Obama praised the bi-partisan efforts of two Senators who put forward an outlined framework for immigration reform legislation.
上星期，奥巴马总统表彰了两位参议员所做的不分党派的合作，他们共同提出了移民改革立法的框架提案。
The bill from Democratic Senator Charles Schumer and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham seeks to reinforce border controls and calls for the creation of a high-tech Social Security card to ensure that employers hire only legal workers.
民主党参议员查尔斯.舒默和共和党参议员林塞.格雷厄姆的提案寻求加强边界控制并呼吁制造高科技社会保险卡来保证雇主只雇佣合法劳工。
The outline also includes proposals for a temporary worker program and penalties that would allow illegal immigrants to stay such as paying fines and back taxes and performing community service.
这项提案还包括提议设立临时劳工项目和惩罚制度，比如缴纳罚金、补交税款或者通过社区劳动服务等途径允许非法移民留在美国。
As key mid-term elections near in November, the immigration issue is likely to draw more attention. Many Republicans have opposed immigration reform without tougher enforcement of immigration laws and border enforcement. There are an estimated 11 million illegal immigrations in the United States.
由于今年11月要举行关键的国会中期选举，移民议题很可能会获得更多的关注。很多共和党人认为，不严格执行移民法、不加强边境执法力度，他们就反对移民改革。据估计，美国有有1千1百万非法移民。
Some political analysts argue that the issue is unlikely to gain any traction before then, especially if concerns over the near 10 percent unemployment rate and health care continue to dominate the political agenda.
一些政治分析人士人为，在中期选举前，移民改革不太可能吸引注意力，特别是如果接近10%的失业率和医疗保健议题继续主导政坛就更不太可能。 |