--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Number one, it is important that we fix…" description: "\"Number one, it is important that we fix the legal immigration system, because right now we've got a backlog that means years for people to apply legall..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/barack-obama-17_character_number-one-it-is-important-that-we-fix-t_895894.jpg" --- # Number one, it is important that we fix the legal… ![“Number one, it is important that we fix the legal immigration system, because right now we've got a backlog that means years for people to apply legally. And what's worse is, we keep on increasing the fees, so that if you've got a hard working immigrant family, they've got to hire a lawyer…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/barack-obama-17_character_number-one-it-is-important-that-we-fix-t_895894.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/barack-obama-17_character_number-one-it-is-important-that-we-fix-t_895894.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/barack-obama-17_character_number-one-it-is-important-that-we-fix-t_895894.jpg) > “Number one, it is important that we fix the legal immigration system, because right now we've got a backlog that means years for people to apply legally. And what's worse is, we keep on increasing the fees, so that if you've got a hard working immigrant family, they've got to hire a lawyer; they've got to pay thousands of dollars in fees. They just can't afford it. And it's discriminatory against people who have good character, we should want in this country, but don't have the money. So we've got to fix that.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The immigration system is clogged, costly, and unfair to hardworking families, needing reform. **In simple terms:** Immigration is broken and expensive. Key Takeaway Advocate for fair, affordable immigration processes. Themes immigration justice policy economics equity Mood concerned hopeful Type political advocacy When to use this quote - legislative hearings - community organizing - legal aid - media interviews - public forums Key Concepts public policy legal reform social equity Questions to Reflect On - What are the main obstacles to reform? - How can we balance security and fairness? A Different Perspective Complex political realities may limit simple fixes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Good character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-character/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Hard working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-working/) [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-reform/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Legal immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-immigration/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [We need to fix our legal immigration system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/we-need-to-fix-our-legal-immigration-system/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [We need legal immigration done the right way. It's not xenophobic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paulina-luna/we-need-legal-immigration-done-the-right-way-it-s-not-xenophobic/) [Anna Paulina Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paulina-luna/) > [People who think that the immigration system is easy and people should just apply legally - it just isn't that easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/people-who-think-that-the-immigration-system-is-easy-and-people/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I'm not like the Brexiteers. I don't deny that we have to permit immigration and the right of establishment for capital and services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/i-m-not-like-the-brexiteers-i-don-t-deny-that-we-have-to-permit/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [America is a nation of immigrants. And so the question is, how do we make legal immigration faster, less bureaucratic, cut the red tape?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-is-a-nation-of-immigrants-and-so-the-question-is-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [One of the West's singular migrations--from the Azores to California's Great Central Valley--is given faces and voices in Anthony Barcellos's new novel, Land of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-haslam/one-of-the-west-s-singular-migrations-from-the-azores-to-california-s/) Gerald Haslam > [We still had all our problems growing up as a struggling immigrant family, but Australia was like a breath of fresh air, literally. Playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/we-still-had-all-our-problems-growing-up-as-a-struggling-immigrant/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [Part of the reason why my folks - why any immigrant family - wants their kids to go into law or medicine is because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/part-of-the-reason-why-my-folks-why-any-immigrant-family-wants-their/) [Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/) > [When you're an immigrant family, the upbringing, the mentality and the opportunities are all different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-gastelum/when-you-re-an-immigrant-family-the-upbringing-the-mentality-and-the/) [Kelvin Gastelum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-gastelum/) > [I can't speak for everybody, and I don't want to say it for an entire culture, but for me, coming from an immigrant family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lulu-wang/i-can-t-speak-for-everybody-and-i-don-t-want-to-say-it-for-an-entire/) [Lulu Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lulu-wang/) > [Haley's life thus far has been an incredible American story: an immigrant family lands in rural South Carolina and produces a charismatic state leader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bessent/haley-s-life-thus-far-has-been-an-incredible-american-story-an/) [Scott Bessent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bessent/) > [One of the hard things coming from an immigrant family - or any family that doesn't believe in the arts - is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/one-of-the-hard-things-coming-from-an-immigrant-family-or-any-family/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [As the son of an immigrant family, I am happy to be a guest in U.S, which was largely built by such families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/as-the-son-of-an-immigrant-family-i-am-happy-to-be-a-guest-in-u-s/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Every immigrant family, it seems, has someone who does not belong in the new country they have come to. It feels like permanent exile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/every-immigrant-family-it-seems-has-someone-who-does-not-belong-in/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [America, we weaken our ties when we allow our political dialogue to become so corrosive that people of good character aren't even willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-we-weaken-our-ties-when-we-allow-our-political-dialogue-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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