喜訊:華盛頓非法移民或將獲大學助學金資格

The Washington House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a measure making young illegal immigrants eligible for state college financial aid.

華盛頓衆議院週三通過了一項議案，讓年輕的非法移民也有資格申請州立大學的助學金。

The measure's bipartisan 77-20 vote was highlighted by impassioned speeches by Republicans who broke ranks with their party to vote in favor of the bill.

兩黨對該議案的贊成票和反對票爲77比20，共和黨議員們和自己的黨派唱反調，投了贊成票，還發表了慷慨激昂的演說，吸引了衆多目光。

"People will seek this nation out from all over the world. They want a life of opportunity," said Republican Rep. Charles Ross of Naches. "These kids, I want them to someday go to Cornell, to be a state lawmaker or more."

來自納奇斯的共和黨議員查爾斯?羅斯說：“全世界的人們都會奔着這個國家而來。他們想要有機遇的人生。這些孩子，我希望他們有一天能上康奈爾大學，成爲州議員或更了不起的人。”

House lawmakers amended the bill on the floor to open college aid to all young illegal immigrants. The bill has undergone several changes since it was introduced earlier this year.

衆議院議員在議院對法案進行了修改，對所有年輕非法移民開放大學助學金。自從今年年初推出這一法案以來，已經對其進行了幾次改動。

The bill's previous version made only young immigrants who had qualified for the Obama Administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program eligible for the State Needs Grant. That federal program provides young immigrants who arrived in the United States as children a legal way to live in the country on renewable two-year stays, if they meet certain age and non-criminal history criteria.

該法案的早期版本只允許那些有資格參與奧巴馬政府的兒童移民延期行動項目的年輕移民得到華盛頓州特需補助。該聯邦政府項目爲來到美國的年輕移民提供在美國生活的合法渠道，每兩年更新一次居住許可證，前提是他們符合一定的年齡限制，而且沒有犯罪史。

The bill now moves to the Senate, where a similar bill did not get a hearing. But advocates are optimistic.

該法案現在已提交參議院，此前在參議院有一個類似法案沒有獲得聽證機會。不過擁護者們對此持樂觀態度。

"I think that this is a perfect bipartisan issue for a bipartisan-led Senate. And I think the chances are pretty good," said Emily Murphy of OneAmerica, an immigrant advocacy group.

移民權益倡導組織OneAmerica的艾米麗?墨菲說：“我認爲這對於由兩黨領導的參議院是一個完美的兩黨議題。我認爲這是一個絕佳的機會。”

Republican Sen. Barbara Bailey, who chairs the higher education committee, said she would try to set a hearing for the bill.

高等教育委員會主席、共和黨參議員芭芭拉?貝利說她會努力爲該議案爭取開聽證會的機會。

"It is worth a discussion," Bailey said.

貝利說：“這一議案值得討論。”

Opponents said the measure promises financial aid in a time when the state doesn't have enough money for all students in need. One lawmaker opposed the bill because of he said illegal immigrants don't follow the law.

反對者稱，這一議案承諾發放補助金，但當前華盛頓州並沒有足夠的錢讓所有貧困學生都拿到助學金。一位議員反對這一議案，他說因爲非法移民並不遵守法律。

"We're a nation and state of laws and because we are, we're governed by the rule of law, and as much of a humanitarian issue as this is, as much compassion that folks in my own caucus and my friends across the aisle have shown, it doesn't change the fact we have to address, the foundation of this conversation and that is the rule of law," said Republican Rep. Jason Overstreet of Blaine.

來自布萊恩市的共和黨衆議員傑森?奧福斯特利特說：“我們的國家是一個法治國家，我們的州是法治之州，正因如此，我們受法律管轄；不管這是怎樣的一個人道主義問題，不管我們核心小組的成員和對立黨派的朋友們表現出多大的同情心，這並不能改變我們所必須面對的事實和這一對話的基礎，這就是法治。”