美國亞利桑那州教育最高官員指出，該州州議會已通過一項法案，將禁止該州所有的族群研究課程。

該法案將禁止所有「增進民眾對特定種族或是階級憎恨」、「專為特定種族族群學生設計」，或是「呼籲種族團結，而非尊重學生為獨立個體」的課程。

同樣被禁止的課程還有：所有力圖散佈顛覆美國政府思想的課程。

該法案提案人索恩（Tom Horne）是亞利桑那州公共建設督察，目前正在競選亞利桑那州州檢察長的共和黨提名。他向當地媒體表示，他的目標是土桑市公立學校所設置的墨裔美人專屬課程。然而該法案實施對象將會擴及該州由幼稚園到12年級的所有公立和公辦民營學校。

批評聲浪指出，該法案本身就「增進民眾對特定種族或是階級的憎恨」。

土桑市選區選出的州議員羅佩茲（Linda Lopez）便反對該提案，表示這提案甚至會讓911事件被排除在課程大綱之外，因為該事件有可能會引起人們對穆斯林的恨意。然而，該法案的支持者拒絕接受這個論點。

《福斯新聞》則報導說，好消息是「該法案並不禁止學校教授猶太大屠殺」。

如果有學校違反法案，該州預算委員會將會縮減該校、甚至該學區的預算。該法案已呈上給亞利桑那州州長布魯爾（Jan Brewer)，等候簽署。她在5月11日前作出決定。（《國家》週刊The Nation）

Arizona's tough immigration law and U.S. reform

美國亞利桑那州強勢制裁非法移民的新法案，一方面激發參議院民主黨議員不辭辛勞、推動聯邦版本移民法大修改的決心；另一方面在51勞動節，將全美各地西班牙族裔、勞工團體和信仰團體，推上街頭遊行。

Arizona's tough new law cracking down on illegal immigrants galvanized Democrats in the Senate in their uphill effort to push a federal immigration overhaul and boosted interest in traditional May Day rallies across the country among Hispanic, labor and faith groups.

為何亞利桑那新法惹起漫天爭議？

WHY IS THE NEW ARIZONA LAW SO CONTROVERSIAL

亞利桑那新法案賦予州警或是地方警察職權，得以決定一名百姓是否為非法移民，該權責過去僅有聯邦移民警察和某些地方官員才能執行。法學批評家指出，亞利桑那州的新法案實際上違憲，並且是在進行種族貌相（racial profiling）；他們擔憂，新法會摧毀這邊境之州裡，西班牙裔族群和執法者間的信任關係。

The law requires state and local police to determine if people are in the country illegally, previously a function carried out by U.S. federal immigration police and some local forces. Critics of the law argue that it is unconstitutional and a mandate for racial profiling 1, and fear it will destroy trust between Hispanic communities and law enforcement in the border state.

該法案面臨的挑戰為何？

WHAT CHALLENGES DOES IT FACE?

法案4月29日遭遇到前兩個聯邦訴訟挑戰，一則是來自土桑市的一名警員，另一則是來自於拉丁裔神職人員和基督教領袖全國聯盟（National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders）。

The first two federal lawsuits challenging the law were filed on Thursday in Arizona -- one by a Tucson police officer and the other by the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders.

而在亞利桑那，行動人士向州務卿提出了一份請願書，要求在11月選舉時，把法案提出到選民面前公決。提出申請的「單一亞利桑那」（One Arizona）團體在7月下旬前必須交出所需的至少7萬6千份簽名。

Also in Arizona, activists filed a petition with the secretary of state to put the law before voters on the November ballot. The group, One Arizona, has until late July to submit the more than 76,000 signatures needed to do so.

其他各州也會實施相似法律嗎？

WILL OTHER STATES IMPLEMENT SIMILAR LAWS?

全美州議會聯合會議（National Conference of State Legislatures）表示，其他各州可能會尋求類似的措施，但在亞利桑那州法案造成所費不貲的法律質疑和爭議的前景下，各州類似作法的進行料將緩慢進行。在目前預算緊縮的處境下，開銷會是一個重要考量因素。

The National Conference of State Legislatures says other states may look at similar measures, although the prospect of costly legal challenges 2 and controversy generated by the Arizona law means that it will go slowly. Cost is an important issue in these tight budget times.

亞利桑那究竟有多少非法移民，他們現在該何去何從？

HOW MANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE IN ARIZONA AND WHAT WILLTHEY DO NOW?

目前大約有1,080萬非法移民在美國居留或工作，當中預估有46萬人在亞利桑那。在州議會4月29日起休會90天之後，該州移民法將於7月下旬實施。

There are some 10.8 million illegal immigrants living and working in the United States, an estimated 460,000 of them in Arizona. The state's immigration law takes effect in late July, 90 days after the legislature adjourned on April 29.

亞利桑那州處於陰影下的非法移工正在權衡他們有什麼選擇。部分非法移民表示，他們會耐心等待，看看這項法案是否真的會實施，而實施的情形又有多徹底。其他人則考慮遷居到其他州、返回祖國、或甚至是搬到第3個國家，像是西班牙等地。

Arizona's shadow workforce is weighing its options. Some illegal immigrants say they will wait and see if the law is implemented, and if so, how vigorously. Others are considering moves to other states, returning to their countries of origin, or even to a third country such as Spain.

美國國會通過移民改革法案的機會有多少？

WHAT ARE CHANCES OF THE U.S. CONGRESS PASSING REFORM BILL?

美國參議院民主黨領袖瑞德（Harry Reid），4月29日揭露了該黨團徹底檢修美國移民體制的大綱，移民議題成為11月國會大選主要議題的趨勢因而開始加溫。然而，美國聯邦移民法修正案在今年於國會通過的機會相當渺茫。

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on Thursday unveiled a framework for overhauling the country's immigration system, elevating the issue as campaigns for November's congressional elections begin to heat up, although the chances of getting a bill through Congress this year are slim.

擁有一百名成員的美國參議院是否能湊出60票贊成票，以通過移民改革法，目前仍是未知數。與民主黨籍參議員舒默（Charles Schumer）研議移民改革法原始議案好幾個月的共和黨籍參議員葛蘭姆（Lindsey Graham）表示，大選年並不是討論這類分歧議題的好時機。

It is unclear if the 100-member Senate has the 60 votes needed to pass an immigration bill. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had been working for months with Democratic Senator Charles Schumer on a bill, has said an election year 3 was not the right time to debate such a divisive issue.

如果聯邦移民改革法案真的在參議院通過了，提案在眾議院仍會面臨嚴峻考驗，因為眾議院有數十名來自立場傾向共和黨選區的保守派民主黨議員，這種議案確定會惹怒保守派，但又疏遠無黨籍，讓他們在選擇是否支持時，有所遲疑。

If it passed the Senate, the proposal would face tough going in the House of Representatives, where dozens of conservative Democrats who represent Republican-leaning districts would be hesitant to support an issue certain to inflame conservatives and alienate some independents.

那一黨會從移民辯論中獲益？

WHICH PARTY WOULD BENEFIT FROM IMMIGRATION DEBATE?

民主和共和兩黨在這場高度兩極化的移民辯論中，都面臨可觀的政治風險。由於西裔人口是美國最大、成長也最快速的少數族裔，共和黨可能失去更多西班牙裔的支持，進而出現長程的政治危機。

Both parties face significant political risks from a polarizing immigration debate. Republicans could lose more ground with Hispanics 4, the biggest and fastest-growing minority, creating long-term political difficulties.

共和黨籍前總統布希曾發動奇襲，在2004年的總統大選中，贏得了超過40％西班牙裔選民的選票。然而，就在共和黨議員協助杯葛國會中的移民法改革後，西班牙裔選民2008年改而蜂湧支持歐巴馬。

Republican President George W. Bush had made significant inroads with Hispanics, winning more than 40 percent of their votes in 2004. But after Republicans helped kill immigration reform in Congress, Hispanics flocked to Democrat Obama in 2008.

歐巴馬獲得的西班牙裔票數幾乎是共和黨馬侃的兩倍；在新墨西哥州，墨西哥族裔是歐巴馬的制勝關鍵；在內華達州、科羅拉多州和其他州，西裔選票也居功厥偉。

Obama won Hispanics by a margin of more than 2-to-1 over Republican John McCain, and they were credited with fueling his win in New Mexico, and helping in Nevada, Colorado and elsewhere.

活躍的親民主黨西班牙裔選民，對於科羅拉多州和加州競爭激烈的參議員選舉來說舉足輕重。

An energized pro-Democratic Hispanic vote could be crucial in competitive Senate races in Colorado and California.

不過位於保守選區的數十名選情瀕危民主黨籍候選人，在對健保改革法案和增加開支等議案中已投下不向民粹屈服的贊成票，在這種情勢下，將會變成草根運動保守派行動人士的選戰攻擊目標。

But dozens of endangered Democrats in conservative districts, already at risk after casting tough votes for healthcare reform 5 and more spending, would be even bigger targets for grass-roots conservative activists.

移民議題可能也會讓民主黨人無法談論他們最喜愛的競選議題：如何振興經濟，改善失業率。

The issue also could keep Democrats from talking about their favorite campaign topic -- efforts to rejuvenate the economy and jobs.

聯邦的移民改革法案內容為何？

WHAT WOULD IMMIGRATION REFORM LOOK LIKE?

瑞德上週所揭櫫的民主黨版本移民改革法，是依據早些時候，參議員舒默和葛蘭姆所起草的法案大綱。但是，葛蘭姆抱怨道，國會還沒準備好要針對該議案進行討論。

The Democratic framework unveiled by Reid last week is based largely on an outline drafted earlier by senators Schumer and Graham. But Graham has complained that Congress is not yet ready to move on it.

瑞德計畫中的第一步，是要尋求強化美國邊境安全的方式。該法案同時支持發給移工高科技的身分證明，這個步驟一方面是希望能逐步承認目前居美移工的合法性，同時是對於雇用非法移工雇主的「嚴厲制裁」。更具爭議的是，該版本的移民改革法，最終是要提供美國公民資格給所有非法居留的移工。（路透）

Reid's plan seeks to bolster U.S. border security as a first step. It backs the creation of a hi-tech identification card for immigrant workers, a process to admit temporary workers and "tough sanctions" against U.S. employers who hire illegal immigrants. Most controversially, it seeks an eventual a path toward U.S. citizenship for people in the country illegally.（Reuters）

歡迎對立報的任何批評指教。請由立報首頁點選「討論區」，或點選 討論區