VOA慢速英語：美國機構修改“移民國家”的使命聲明

US Agency Changes ‘Nation of Immigrants’ Mission Statement

美國機構修改“移民國家”的使命聲明

The United States government agency that oversees immigration has changed its mission statement. The new version no longer describes the U.S. as a "nation of immigrants."

負責監(jiān)督移民事務的美國政府機構已經修改了其使命聲明。新的聲明不再稱美國為“移民國家”。

The director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, L. Francis Cissna, wrote an email about the change to USCIS employees on Thursday. A letter about the change from Cissna is also published on the agency's website.

美國公民與移民服務局局長L. 弗朗西斯·希斯納(L. Francis Cissna)周四在一封寫給單位員工的電子郵件中提到了這一改變。該機構的官方網(wǎng)站上也發(fā)表了一封來自希斯納的郵件提到了這一變化。

The new mission statement says: "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administers the nation's lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently and fairly adjudicating requests for immigration benefits while protecting Americans, securing the homeland, and honoring our values."

新的使命聲明稱：“美國公民及移民服務局管理國家的合法移民系統(tǒng)，有效率而且公平地裁決關于移民福利的申請，同時保障美國人、確保國土安全，并尊崇我們的價值，以此來守護移民系統(tǒng)的公正與承諾。”

Cissna said he believes "the simple, straightforward statement clearly defines the agency's role" in carrying out immigration laws and responsibilities to the American people.

希斯納表示，他相信”這一簡單、直接的聲明清楚地界定了該機構在向美國人民執(zhí)行移民法律以及責任方面的作用。”

The earlier mission statement said the agency "secures America's promise as a nation of immigrants..."

之前的使命聲明稱該機構“確保美國作為移民國家的承諾......”

The phrase "nation of immigrants" has a long history in American political speeches. Most recent presidents from both political parties, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush, have used the phrase to describe America.

”移民國家”一詞在美國的政治演講中具有悠久的歷史。兩黨近年來的大多數(shù)總統(tǒng)，包括奧巴馬和小布什在內，都用這個詞描述過美國。

It is thought to have been used as far back as the 19th century. It described a country where people of many cultures and nationalities added to what has been long described as a "melting pot."

據(jù)認為這個詞早在19世紀就被用到過。它描述了一個由眾多文化和民族組成的，長期被稱之為“大熔爐”的這么一個國家。

The phrase also appears as the title of a book, "A Nation of Immigrants," by former president John F. Kennedy. The book was published after this death.

這個詞也成為了前任總統(tǒng)約翰·肯尼迪(John F. Kennedy)撰寫的《移民國家》一書的標題。這本書是在肯尼迪死后出版。

Cissna said that he no longer wants the agency to call immigration applicants and petitioners its "customers." He said he believes the agency is meant to first serve "the American people."

希斯納表示，他不在希望該機構稱移民申請人為“客戶”。他說，他認為該機構首先要服務于“美國人民”。

U.S. Census Bureau information from 2014 shows that there were at least 42 million immigrants, both legal and illegal, in the country. That number has continued to grow.

美國人口普查局2014年的信息顯示，美國至少有4200萬移民，包括合法和非法的。這一數(shù)字一直在增長。

Critics say the mission statement change raises questions about the country's continued willingness to accept immigrants. They note the importance of America's promise to those coming to this country.

批評者表示，這一使命聲明的改變引發(fā)了人們對美國是否愿意繼續(xù)接收移民的疑問。他們指出了美國的承諾對這些即將來到這個國家的人士的重要性。

The new statement for the immigration agency does keep the word "promise" in it.

該移民機構在新聲明中并未保留“承諾”一詞。

The inscription on the Statue of Liberty in New York City reads "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

紐約自由女神像上的題詞是：“給我你那疲倦、貧窮、渴望自由呼吸的人們。”

The lines do not have the word "immigrant" in them, nor does the poem that the inscription is based on. However, it is clear what the subject of the inscription truly is.

這段話中并沒有“移民”這個單詞，碑文引用的詩句也沒有。但是很明顯碑文真正的主題是什么。

I'm Mario Ritter.

馬里奧·里特報道。