--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because there was a pathway to…" description: "\"Because there was a pathway to citizenship that allowed me to secure legal status, I had the unbridled chance to work hard and build a life and a famil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_chance_because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizensh_2883528.jpg" --- # Because there was a pathway to citizenship that allowed me… ![“Because there was a pathway to citizenship that allowed me to secure legal status, I had the unbridled chance to work hard and build a life and a family here.” quote by Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_chance_because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizensh_2883528.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_chance_because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizensh_2883528.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_chance_because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizensh_2883528.jpg) > “Because there was a pathway to citizenship that allowed me to secure legal status, I had the unbridled chance to work hard and build a life and a family here.” [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal pathways enable individuals to work hard, build families, and contribute to society. **In simple terms:** Citizenship offers opportunity to thrive. Key Takeaway Support fair immigration policies. Themes opportunity hard work family Mood optimistic empathetic Type political motivational When to use this quote - career building - family stability - community contribution Key Concepts social mobility legal status Questions to Reflect On - How does secure status change a life? - What barriers still exist? A Different Perspective Challenges remain for those without legal status. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Build Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-life-327627/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Citizenship Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship-allowed-4009888/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Legal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal/) [Legal Status](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-status-1634730/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pathway Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pathway-citizenship-1118460/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [There will never be a bill without a pathway to citizenship signed by the president...And in turn there will never be a pathway to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/there-will-never-be-a-bill-without-a-pathway-to-citizenship-signed-by/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [One simple rule: no amnesty, no special pathway to citizenship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/one-simple-rule-no-amnesty-no-special-pathway-to-citizenship/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [People have a pathway to citizenship right now- It's to abide by the immigration laws, and if they have a family relationship, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goodlatte/people-have-a-pathway-to-citizenship-right-now-it-s-to-abide-by-the/) [Bob Goodlatte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goodlatte/) > [I do not favor or support, nor will I vote for, a pathway to citizenship for people that are here who've broken the law.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-salmon/i-do-not-favor-or-support-nor-will-i-vote-for-a-pathway-to/) [Matt Salmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-salmon/) > [Told reporters Wednesday he can support a pathway to citizenship for some of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. and that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-issa/told-reporters-wednesday-he-can-support-a-pathway-to-citizenship-for/) [Darrell Issa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-issa/) > [Throughout our history, Canada's immigration policy has brought people here who had a pathway to citizenship. They were - and are - nation builders.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/throughout-our-history-canada-s-immigration-policy-has-brought-people/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [Speaker Boehner needs to understand the urgency for reform. Until the House passes a bill that includes a pathway to citizenship, we will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliseo-medina/speaker-boehner-needs-to-understand-the-urgency-for-reform-until-the/) [Eliseo Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliseo-medina/) > [A special pathway to citizenship is off the table... when I talk to members of the group in the Senate, they're saying that we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-labrador/a-special-pathway-to-citizenship-is-off-the-table-when-i-talk-to/) [Raul Labrador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-labrador/) > [As an immigrant justice advocate, I, of course, want legal status for everyone trying to make it in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/as-an-immigrant-justice-advocate-i-of-course-want-legal-status-for/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [We should encourage people who have lived here peacefully for years to earn legal status over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-should-encourage-people-who-have-lived-here-peacefully-for-years/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [I will join the fight for the DREAM Act that will create a pathway to citizenship for our Dreamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/i-will-join-the-fight-for-the-dream-act-that-will-create-a-pathway-to/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [We're being overrun by people who live in poor and corrupt countries who come to the USA to get work. But we got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/we-re-being-overrun-by-people-who-live-in-poor-and-corrupt-countries/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [We have 11 million people in this country that need a pathway to citizenship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-have-11-million-people-in-this-country-that-need-a-pathway-to/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [ We \[Americans\] really need a system that comprehensively looks at the fact that we need these workers in the United States, we need to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/we-americans-really-need-a-system-that-comprehensively-looks-at-the/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I believe that Dreamers and TPS recipients should be granted a pathway to citizenship, and millions of others should have a path to legalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-suozzi/i-believe-that-dreamers-and-tps-recipients-should-be-granted-a/) [Tom Suozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-suozzi/) ## More by Alejandro Mayorkas > [I'm a political refugee, and my identity as a political refugee was extraordinarily important to my upbringing. And my parents were very focused on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/i-m-a-political-refugee-and-my-identity-as-a-political-refugee-was/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [The border is varied depending on the geography, depending on the specific venue, and depending on the conduct of individuals around it. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-border-is-varied-depending-on-the-geography-depending-on-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [The impact of climate change, extreme weather events, the reason people are fleeing their homes is quite significant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-impact-of-climate-change-extreme-weather-events-the-reason-people/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [We will remain vigilant, and we will not forget that protecting America means that we will defend the principles on which it was founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-will-remain-vigilant-and-we-will-not-forget-that-protecting/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Words matter. We've seen that with soaring impact, and we've seen it with tremendously damaging impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/words-matter-we-ve-seen-that-with-soaring-impact-and-we-ve-seen-it/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [I felt like the luckiest kid in the world with the parents I had. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/i-felt-like-the-luckiest-kid-in-the-world-with-the-parents-i-had/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [We are deeply concerned about false narratives, ideologies of hate that are fueled by conversations and messages on online platforms and other social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-are-deeply-concerned-about-false-narratives-ideologies-of-hate/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [The love for this country that I learned from my parents made the January 6 attack on the Capitol all the more horrifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-love-for-this-country-that-i-learned-from-my-parents-made-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Never underestimate the talent and dedication of the Department of Homeland Security workforce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/never-underestimate-the-talent-and-dedication-of-the-department-of/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [We are working with the office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in addressing the challenges with the social media companies to ensure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-are-working-with-the-office-of-civil-rights-and-civil-liberties-in/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Horses can traverse terrain that might not otherwise be covered. In fact, horses are often used to not only assess a situation, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/horses-can-traverse-terrain-that-might-not-otherwise-be-covered-in/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [It's quite challenging in dealing with a country like Venezuela, where the diplomatic relations, if they exist at all, can be strained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/it-s-quite-challenging-in-dealing-with-a-country-like-venezuela-where/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [When a recipient of DACA suffers the expiration of the DACA, that individual is no longer lawfully present in the United States. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/when-a-recipient-of-daca-suffers-the-expiration-of-the-daca-that/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [I oversee three agencies and thousands - tens of thousands of individuals who focus on our immigration system and fixing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/i-oversee-three-agencies-and-thousands-tens-of-thousands-of/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [We have asylum laws that provide humanitarian relief. Those who qualify under those laws are entitled to the relief that we extend. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-have-asylum-laws-that-provide-humanitarian-relief-those-who/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) [Explore all 98 Alejandro Mayorkas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) [Alejandro Taubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-taubas/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Because there was a pathway to citizenship that allowed me to secure legal status, I had the unbridled chance to work hard and build a life and a family here.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alejandro Mayorkas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizenship-that-allowed-me-to-secure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizenship-that-allowed-me-to-secure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_chance_because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizensh_2883528.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_chance_because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizensh_2883528.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/alejandro-mayorkas-6731_chance_because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizensh_2883528.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Because there was a pathway to citizenship that allowed me to secure legal status, I had the unbridled…” — Alejandro Mayorkas", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alejandro Mayorkas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Because there was a pathway to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizenship-that-allowed-me-to-secure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/because-there-was-a-pathway-to-citizenship-that-allowed-me-to-secure/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```