--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The system isn't working when 12 million…" description: "\"The system isn't working when 12 million people live in hiding, and hundreds of thousands cross our borders illegally each year; when companies hire un..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/barack-obama-17_access_the-system-isn-t-working-when-12-million_2920588.jpg" --- # The system isn't working when 12 million people live in… ![“The system isn't working when 12 million people live in hiding, and hundreds of thousands cross our borders illegally each year; when companies hire undocumented immigrants instead of legal citizens to avoid paying overtime or to avoid a union; when communities are terrorized by ICE immigration…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/barack-obama-17_access_the-system-isn-t-working-when-12-million_2920588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/barack-obama-17_access_the-system-isn-t-working-when-12-million_2920588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/barack-obama-17_access_the-system-isn-t-working-when-12-million_2920588.jpg) > “The system isn't working when 12 million people live in hiding, and hundreds of thousands cross our borders illegally each year; when companies hire undocumented immigrants instead of legal citizens to avoid paying overtime or to avoid a union; when communities are terrorized by ICE immigration raids - when nursing mothers are torn from their babies, when children come home from school to find their parents missing, when people are detained without access to legal counsel. When all that's happening, the system just isn't working.” [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 quote highlights systemic failures where large numbers of vulnerable people suffer due to broken policies, exploitation, and lack of legal protections. **In simple terms:** The system fails to protect millions from exploitation and injustice. Key Takeaway Address policy gaps and protect vulnerable populations. Themes justice human rights policy failure exploitation immigration Mood frustrated urgent compassionate Type political activist advocacy When to use this quote - advocacy - legal reform - community support - family reunification - policy change Key Concepts systemic inequality legal rights human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How can we create enforceable protections for undocumented workers? - What role should community organizations play in supporting affected families? A Different Perspective Complex political realities can stall reforms despite urgency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Borders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borders/) [Borders Illegally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borders-illegally-2227934/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Coming home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-home/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Happenings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happenings/) [Hiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice/) [Ice Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice-immigration-228068/) [Illegally Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegally-year-907030/) [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Immigrants Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants-instead-4253243/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-reform/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Missing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Nursing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursing/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Torn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torn/) [Undocumented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undocumented/) [Undocumented immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undocumented-immigrants/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“Scattered throughout the week were a surprising number of speeches about how we may be killed by undocumented immigrants driving drunk. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/scattered-throughout-the-week-were-a-surprising-number-of-speeches/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [Most analysts would agree that if all the undocumented immigrants in California were deported in one day, our state would experience a severe economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/most-analysts-would-agree-that-if-all-the-undocumented-immigrants-in/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [Trump's characterization of undocumented immigrants is, of course, absurd. Not only do the facts, well, trump his assertions, but his prejudiced views demonstrate a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-ramos/trump-s-characterization-of-undocumented-immigrants-is-of-course/) [Jorge Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-ramos/) > [You wouldn't replace your carpet at home if you still had a hole in the roof...We're talking about any time you start waving a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barletta/you-wouldn-t-replace-your-carpet-at-home-if-you-still-had-a-hole-in/) [Lou Barletta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barletta/) > [In order to create real, long-lasting reform, we must create a pathway to legal status for the millions of undocumented immigrants who have made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/in-order-to-create-real-long-lasting-reform-we-must-create-a-pathway/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [Obama set a record number of deportations of illegal immigrants in 2011, but that fact alone is misleading. Obama has spoken in favor of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/obama-set-a-record-number-of-deportations-of-illegal-immigrants-in/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [The truth is, most undocumented immigrants come here for economic opportunity and the American Dream. They aren't seeking tax credits or handouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-truth-is-most-undocumented-immigrants-come-here-for-economic/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [ The estimated 11 or so million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States. This is what Mr. \[Donald \] Trump promised back in November. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/the-estimated-11-or-so-million-undocumented-immigrants-currently-in/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [“The facts tell a very different story: (1) First-generation Mexican immigrants actually commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans; (2) as rates of immigration have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-offit/the-facts-tell-a-very-different-story-1-first-generation-mexican/) [Paul A. Offit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-a-offit/) > [It is erroneous and profoundly irresponsible to suggest that up to three million undocumented immigrants living in America are dangerous criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/it-is-erroneous-and-profoundly-irresponsible-to-suggest-that-up-to/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [“Without a sensible approach to the undocumented immigrants already in this country, all the fences in the world will not stop them. We already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-a-sensible-approach-to-the-undocumented-immigrants-already-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants currently live within our borders. That's 11 million people living in the shadows whom we know next to nothing about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-israel/nearly-11-million-undocumented-immigrants-currently-live-within-our/) [Steve Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-israel/) > [“How do you expect politicians to fight illegal immigration when they are deeply dependent on it? When their campaigns and party funding are supported…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/how-do-you-expect-politicians-to-fight-illegal-immigration-when-they/) [De philosopher DJ Kyos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/) > [When you're the child of undocumented immigrants, you learn to keep your mouth shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/when-you-re-the-child-of-undocumented-immigrants-you-learn-to-keep/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) ## 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 Access quotes > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [You can disseminate your art, and it's all such easy access now. The upside to it is that more people are creating than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/you-can-disseminate-your-art-and-it-s-all-such-easy-access-now-the/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) > [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Because the Internet's there, I have access to a lot of the legends, like Fela Kuti. I used to watch a lot of Fela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-krule/because-the-internet-s-there-i-have-access-to-a-lot-of-the-legends/) [King Krule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-krule/) > [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [It is truly vital for the United States to assure that it is not attacked with weapons of mass destruction; to prevent wars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-truly-vital-for-the-united-states-to-assure-that-it-is-not/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Now that I'm more middle class, I have access to consumer goods. I do enjoy feminine frippery, feminine doo-da, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/now-that-i-m-more-middle-class-i-have-access-to-consumer-goods-i-do/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) [Andrew Nikiforuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-nikiforuk/) > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. 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