--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we think about immigration, we have…" description: "\"When we think about immigration, we have to understand there are folks all around the world who still see America as the land of promise. And they prov..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/barack-obama-17_america_when-we-think-about-immigration-we-have_626332.jpg" --- # When we think about immigration, we have to understand… ![“When we think about immigration, we have to understand there are folks all around the world who still see America as the land of promise. And they provide us energy, and they provide us innovation. And they start companies like Intel and Google, and we want to encourage that.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/barack-obama-17_america_when-we-think-about-immigration-we-have_626332.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/barack-obama-17_america_when-we-think-about-immigration-we-have_626332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/barack-obama-17_america_when-we-think-about-immigration-we-have_626332.jpg) > “When we think about immigration, we have to understand there are folks all around the world who still see America as the land of promise. And they provide us energy, and they provide us innovation. And they start companies like Intel and Google, and we want to encourage 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. Immigrants view America as a land of opportunity; they contribute energy, innovation, and create major companies. **In simple terms:** Immigrants fuel progress. Key Takeaway Support inclusive policies. Themes immigration innovation opportunity economics Mood optimistic inspirational Type political economic When to use this quote - policy debate - business development - education - community building Key Concepts entrepreneurship diversity American Dream Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance opportunity with integration? - What policies best harness immigrant talent? A Different Perspective Economic benefits may be unevenly distributed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [America has a unique combination of talent, a vibrant business environment, and access to global markets, which has enabled U.S. companies like Intel to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/america-has-a-unique-combination-of-talent-a-vibrant-business/) [Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/) > [I'd like to own Intel... I'd like to own Microsoft... I'd love to have Warner Bros in my hip pocket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-d-like-to-own-intel-i-d-like-to-own-microsoft-i-d-love-to-have/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I thought it was quite wonderful coming to America. I think immigration is a very difficult thing, but America is a very wonderful place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-thought-it-was-quite-wonderful-coming-to-america-i-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think the immigration system we have now is terrible for the United States of America. We have a legal immigration system that does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-think-the-immigration-system-we-have-now-is-terrible-for-the-united/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [The good news is that we really do think that ... on the immigration issue, that we will, before summer, have comprehensive immigration reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/the-good-news-is-that-we-really-do-think-that-on-the-immigration/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [I'm not a xenophobe - I think immigration is a good thing for most countries - but they transmute the foibles of their native…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/i-m-not-a-xenophobe-i-think-immigration-is-a-good-thing-for-most/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [My understanding, when I think of immigration, is like... you know, this country was built on immigrants: the German, the Polish, the Italian, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/my-understanding-when-i-think-of-immigration-is-like-you-know-this/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [When I think of immigration, I want to think of families. I want to think of unity. I want to think of a safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-tlaib/when-i-think-of-immigration-i-want-to-think-of-families-i-want-to/) [Rashida Tlaib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-tlaib/) > [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 think when you think about immigration, what we need to do is realize that that human capital, if put in a place to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamath-palihapitiya/i-think-when-you-think-about-immigration-what-we-need-to-do-is/) [Chamath Palihapitiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamath-palihapitiya/) > [I think immigration has been one of the vital things about the growth of America. I'm the product of grandparents who all immigrated from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/i-think-immigration-has-been-one-of-the-vital-things-about-the-growth/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [ I think \[ immigration\] is still is a problem, whether it's 11 million or 2 million. Why is it - why have the situation… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-arpaio/i-think-immigration-is-still-is-a-problem-whether-it-s-11-million-or/) [Joe Arpaio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-arpaio/) > [I don't think immigration is what's happening in our country. I think an invasion is what is happening, particularly southern border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-don-t-think-immigration-is-what-s-happening-in-our-country-i-think/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's no doubt immigration can put pressure on public services, especially in places like Slough, but I'm not one of those people who think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/there-s-no-doubt-immigration-can-put-pressure-on-public-services/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [I think there are some in the Democratic Party - not all - but I think there are some people in the Democratic Party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-think-there-are-some-in-the-democratic-party-not-all-but-i-think/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) ## 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? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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