--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing I think we have to do is to…" description: "\"One thing I think we have to do is to make sure that the undocumented workers who are living in America today, that they have to take responsibility. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/barack-obama-17_america_one-thing-i-think-we-have-to-do-is-to-ma_1022973.jpg" --- # One thing I think we have to do is to make sure that the… ![“One thing I think we have to do is to make sure that the undocumented workers who are living in America today, that they have to take responsibility. They've got to register, pay a fine, pay their back taxes, learn English and then get on a pathway in which they could have the prospect of being…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/barack-obama-17_america_one-thing-i-think-we-have-to-do-is-to-ma_1022973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/barack-obama-17_america_one-thing-i-think-we-have-to-do-is-to-ma_1022973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/barack-obama-17_america_one-thing-i-think-we-have-to-do-is-to-ma_1022973.jpg) > “One thing I think we have to do is to make sure that the undocumented workers who are living in America today, that they have to take responsibility. They've got to register, pay a fine, pay their back taxes, learn English and then get on a pathway in which they could have the prospect of being here legally.” [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. Undocumented workers should assume responsibility, learn English, and follow legal pathways to regularize status. **In simple terms:** Undocumented workers need to legalize responsibly. Key Takeaway Encourage legal compliance and integration. Themes responsibility legalization immigration integration policy Mood pragmatic concerned Type policy political When to use this quote - employment - education - community outreach - government programs Key Concepts citizenship economic contribution human rights Questions to Reflect On - What support helps undocumented workers meet requirements? - How can policy balance enforcement and compassion? A Different Perspective Complexities of enforcement and humanitarian concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-today/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Pathways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pathways/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Taking responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-responsibility/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Undocumented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undocumented/) [Undocumented workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undocumented-workers/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) ## Related quotes > [Undocumented workers can't report if they're not being paid overtime, or if their health and safety laws are being violated, of if they're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/undocumented-workers-can-t-report-if-they-re-not-being-paid-overtime/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I said to one young activist who herself was the daughter of an undocumented worker, and so could speak from a very personal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-said-to-one-young-activist-who-herself-was-the-daughter-of-an/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When you have a candidate like Donald Trump saying that Mexicans are rapists and drug dealers, and also doubling down and suggesting that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-wasserman-schultz/when-you-have-a-candidate-like-donald-trump-saying-that-mexicans-are/) [Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-wasserman-schultz/) > [I want to get everybody out of the shadows, get the economy working, and not let employers like Donald Trump exploit undocumented workers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-want-to-get-everybody-out-of-the-shadows-get-the-economy-working/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I know firsthand that many employers who comply with other labor standards still hire the undocumented. Many businesses pay the minimum wage and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-echaveste/i-know-firsthand-that-many-employers-who-comply-with-other-labor/) [Maria Echaveste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-echaveste/) > [Undocumented workers are the backbone of the backbone of New York City, of any major city really. To have the hardest jobs but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-torres/undocumented-workers-are-the-backbone-of-the-backbone-of-new-york/) [Julio Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-torres/) > [If you want to find a way to keep illegal immigrants, you know where they are, you give them a driver's license. It helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illegal-immigrants-you-know-where/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [Very few undocumented workers come here to be unemployed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-beckel/very-few-undocumented-workers-come-here-to-be-unemployed/) [Bob Beckel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-beckel/) > [ Over a period of time, they \[undocumented workers\] can have a legalized status that allows them to live a life of dignity but not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/over-a-period-of-time-they-undocumented-workers-can-have-a-legalized/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [Part of comprehensive immigration reform is not just the path to citizenship for undocumented workers, but also the ability for families to be together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/part-of-comprehensive-immigration-reform-is-not-just-the-path-to/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [I have traveled to Florida, I have traveled to Georgia, I have traveled to California, you and I both know that there are millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/i-have-traveled-to-florida-i-have-traveled-to-georgia-i-have-traveled/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [I want to help correct the inaccurate image of immigration in the media. There is an idea that women's issues are over here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-want-to-help-correct-the-inaccurate-image-of-immigration-in-the/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Donald Trump used undocumented labor to build the Trump Tower. He underpaid undocumented workers, and when they complained, he basically said what a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/donald-trump-used-undocumented-labor-to-build-the-trump-tower-he/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“Again, this week as I walked on Broadway, in front of giant photographs of voluptuous supermodels at a Victoria Secret mega-store, who was rebuilding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-troncoso/again-this-week-as-i-walked-on-broadway-in-front-of-giant-photographs/) [Sergio Troncoso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-troncoso/) > [And let us not forget the Social Security system. Recent studies show that undocumented workers sustain the Social Security system with a subsidy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/and-let-us-not-forget-the-social-security-system-recent-studies-show/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) ## 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 America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [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/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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