--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we were working on immigration…" description: "\"When we were working on immigration reform and there was a young Latino man, young immigration activist here who, in the Roosevelt Room, refused to sha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/barack-obama-17_accomplish_when-we-were-working-on-immigration-refo_1353450.jpg" --- # When we were working on immigration reform and there was a… ![“When we were working on immigration reform and there was a young Latino man, young immigration activist here who, in the Roosevelt Room, refused to shake my hand.He made a point of saying, "I can't shake your hand; you're deporting too many people." And I just said to him, "Young man, I'm glad…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/barack-obama-17_accomplish_when-we-were-working-on-immigration-refo_1353450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/barack-obama-17_accomplish_when-we-were-working-on-immigration-refo_1353450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/barack-obama-17_accomplish_when-we-were-working-on-immigration-refo_1353450.jpg) > “When we were working on immigration reform and there was a young Latino man, young immigration activist here who, in the Roosevelt Room, refused to shake my hand.He made a point of saying, "I can't shake your hand; you're deporting too many people." And I just said to him, "Young man, I'm glad that you feel so passionately about this issue, but you're with the president right now in the White House. You've got to think about what's going to be most effective in getting what you need, what you're trying to accomplish. Because this may not be your best strategy."” [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. Strategic advocacy must consider context and audience to maximize impact, even when emotions run high. **In simple terms:** Effective persuasion blends passion with tactical thinking. Key Takeaway Align passion with strategic approaches. Themes politics advocacy strategy Mood thoughtful analytical Type political educational When to use this quote - legislative negotiations - activist meetings - public speaking - policy campaigns Key Concepts public policy communication tactics Questions to Reflect On - How can activists convey urgency without compromising influence? - When is it appropriate to adapt tactics for effectiveness? A Different Perspective Passion without strategy may alienate allies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-reform/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Latino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latino/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) ## Related quotes > [“Deporting people from the only country they've ever known is \*slightly\* worse than sexual masochism, imo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-kirk/deporting-people-from-the-only-country-they-ve-ever-known-is-slightly/) [T.J. Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-kirk/) > [I talked about deporting people that are here illegally. They're here illegally. We either have a country or we don't. I talked about deporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-talked-about-deporting-people-that-are-here-illegally-they-re-here/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Turning away women and children in grave danger; warehousing children in cages; deporting people whom we promised to protect - these actions are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/turning-away-women-and-children-in-grave-danger-warehousing-children/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [I have to say that deporting people and calling them 'bad hombres,' then kicking families out with visa violations, upsets me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maz-jobrani/i-have-to-say-that-deporting-people-and-calling-them-bad-hombres-then/) [Maz Jobrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maz-jobrani/) > [I don't mind throwing something away. It should be your best or it should be what you want people to hear and something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-corby/i-don-t-mind-throwing-something-away-it-should-be-your-best-or-it/) [Matt Corby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-corby/) > [Recognizing and respecting differences in others, and treating everyone like you want them to treat you, will help make our world a better place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-peek/recognizing-and-respecting-differences-in-others-and-treating/) Kim Peek > [I can be your best friend or your worst enemy. You seem to prefer the latter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-can-be-your-best-friend-or-your-worst-enemy-you-seem-to-prefer-the/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [You can be the seventh scorer or the first scorer, just be your best version.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/you-can-be-the-seventh-scorer-or-the-first-scorer-just-be-your-best/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [You don't have to be the best … But, you have to be YOUR best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-diggins/you-don-t-have-to-be-the-best-but-you-have-to-be-your-best/) Skylar Diggins > [It's about being the very best you can be. Nothing else matters as long as you're working and striving to be your best. Always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/it-s-about-being-the-very-best-you-can-be-nothing-else-matters-as/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) > [Feminism is a political practice of fighting male supremacy on behalf of women as a class, including all the women you don't like, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/feminism-is-a-political-practice-of-fighting-male-supremacy-on-behalf/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [Obstacles are not opposing you, but merely and gently re-routing you. It is important not to view that which stands in your way as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/obstacles-are-not-opposing-you-but-merely-and-gently-re-routing-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [I believe that if you die trying to be your best, the world is still a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-believe-that-if-you-die-trying-to-be-your-best-the-world-is-still-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [Some friends leave footprints in your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/some-friends-leave-footprints-in-your-heart/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [The coach doesn't have to play the sport as well as you do. They have to watch you and get you to be your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/the-coach-doesn-t-have-to-play-the-sport-as-well-as-you-do-they-have/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) ## 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 Accomplish quotes > [Learn to see the big picture. Often times we get tunnel vision and lose sight of the big picture and what we're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/learn-to-see-the-big-picture-often-times-we-get-tunnel-vision-and/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I work every day. Sometimes I don't accomplish anything every day, but if I don't work every day, I get depressed and get afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-work-every-day-sometimes-i-don-t-accomplish-anything-every-day-but/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [God has given believers the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to all the world, and we need to use all at our disposal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-epp/god-has-given-believers-the-responsibility-of-spreading-the-gospel-to/) [Theodore Epp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-epp/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [There's things that you want to accomplish, but to do that you have to work. That's the name of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/there-s-things-that-you-want-to-accomplish-but-to-do-that-you-have-to/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [We have to think about the future and what it is we want to accomplish from this party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-bernice-johnson/we-have-to-think-about-the-future-and-what-it-is-we-want-to/) [Eddie Bernice Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-bernice-johnson/) > [Everything that I have ever hoped to accomplish, she has done and done better than anyone I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/everything-that-i-have-ever-hoped-to-accomplish-she-has-done-and-done/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [For what we want to accomplish in the future, we have to be able to view everything from the eyes of the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-katz/for-what-we-want-to-accomplish-in-the-future-we-have-to-be-able-to/) [Karen Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-katz/) > [And for me the only way to live life is to grab the bull by the horns and call up recording studios and set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/and-for-me-the-only-way-to-live-life-is-to-grab-the-bull-by-the-horns/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [A great tennis career is something that a 15-year-old normally doesn't have. I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/a-great-tennis-career-is-something-that-a-15-year-old-normally-doesn/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Somebody once told me that if you laugh at a George Bush joke, or you send an email cartoon to your friends that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/somebody-once-told-me-that-if-you-laugh-at-a-george-bush-joke-or-you/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [One should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/one-should-not-withdraw-from-individuals-and-commit-to-the-community/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) Browse all 2,426 Accomplish quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we were working on immigration reform and there was a young Latino man, young immigration activist here who, in the Roosevelt Room, refused to shake my hand.He made a point of saying, \"I can't shake your hand; you're deporting too many people.\" And I just said to him, \"Young man, I'm glad that you feel so passionately about this issue, but you're with the president right now in the White House. 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