--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to find a way to keep illegal…" description: "\"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 with - they all get insured, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/bill-richardson-11674_american-values_if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illega_1442871.jpg" --- # If you want to find a way to keep illegal immigrants, you… ![“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 with - they all get insured, it helps with traffic safety. I believe education is the key. Yeah, I was for kids of illegal immigrants, if they fulfill the same academic…” quote by Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/bill-richardson-11674_american-values_if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illega_1442871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/bill-richardson-11674_american-values_if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illega_1442871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/bill-richardson-11674_american-values_if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illega_1442871.jpg) > “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 with - they all get insured, it helps with traffic safety. I believe education is the key. Yeah, I was for kids of illegal immigrants, if they fulfill the same academic requirements as New Mexico kids, to be eligible for a scholarship. I believe we have to bring the 12 million undocumented workers out of the shadows, set up a standard where they speak English, if they pass background checks, pay back taxes, obey the laws, embrace American values, give them a chance, a path to citizenship, not amnesty.” [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legalizing undocumented workers with a pathway to citizenship can improve public safety, health insurance coverage, and economic contribution while encouraging integration. **In simple terms:** Give undocumented workers a legal path to citizenship to improve safety and economy. Key Takeaway Create a structured, merit‑based path to citizenship. Themes immigration integration public policy economics social justice Mood hopeful pragmatic concerned Type policy persuasive informative When to use this quote - policy reform - community outreach - employer compliance - public health initiatives Key Concepts citizenship pathways tax compliance language acquisition education access Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance security concerns with humane immigration reform? - What incentives encourage undocumented workers to meet the criteria? A Different Perspective Requires robust enforcement and bipartisan support to avoid political backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-values/) [Amnesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amnesty/) [Illegal immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal-immigrants/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Licenses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/licenses/) [Scholarship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarship/) [Undocumented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undocumented/) [Undocumented workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undocumented-workers/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [By granting 4 million undocumented immigrants social security numbers that can potentially be misused through loopholes in our tax code and voting laws, President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/by-granting-4-million-undocumented-immigrants-social-security-numbers/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [After ensuring border security, I then would normalize the status of 11 million undocumented citizens so they can join the work force and pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/after-ensuring-border-security-i-then-would-normalize-the-status-of/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [One thing I think we have to do is to make sure that the undocumented workers who are living in America today, that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-thing-i-think-we-have-to-do-is-to-make-sure-that-the-undocumented/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ 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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Bill Richardson > [Every dollar governors are forced to cut out of our budgets is a dollar that's not going into the economy. . . . Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/every-dollar-governors-are-forced-to-cut-out-of-our-budgets-is-a/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not just a man's issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men's health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/recognizing-and-preventing-men-s-health-problems-is-not-just-a-man-s/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [Few needs are more pressing, or more deserving of our attention, than taking care of the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/few-needs-are-more-pressing-or-more-deserving-of-our-attention-than/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [Well, does he still have his fingernails? Making inquiries while negotiating the release of a US Army pilot from North Korea, in Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/well-does-he-still-have-his-fingernails-making-inquiries-while/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [So what if it's risky? It's the right thing to do. What we're talking about is 160 people in deep pain. It only affects them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/so-what-if-it-s-risky-it-s-the-right-thing-to-do-what-we-re-talking/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [You can count on time for two things. One is that it will pass. The other is that it will never shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/you-can-count-on-time-for-two-things-one-is-that-it-will-pass-the/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [“The conversation progressed, bumper-car style, to a very heated discussion about death and the survival of the soul. It amazes me that we, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/the-conversation-progressed-bumper-car-style-to-a-very-heated/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [You have a 12-foot fence. You know what'll happen? Thirteen foot ladders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/you-have-a-12-foot-fence-you-know-what-ll-happen-thirteen-foot-ladders/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [When did "sentimental" become a pejorative barb? I do not at all share the notion that a piece of music, or a poem, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/when-did-sentimental-become-a-pejorative-barb-i-do-not-at-all-share/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [The smartest thing we can do to create high-wage jobs and grow our economy is to keep our focus on education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/the-smartest-thing-we-can-do-to-create-high-wage-jobs-and-grow-our/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [The President, in talking about freedom and democracy, is sparking a wave of very positive democratic sentiment that might help us override both Islamic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/the-president-in-talking-about-freedom-and-democracy-is-sparking-a/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [I would have troops where they’re wanted, in our bases in Kuwait. I would have a contingency in case of an international terrorist attack.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/i-would-have-troops-where-they-re-wanted-in-our-bases-in-kuwait-i/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [Had I stayed longer in some primaries, I would have probably done better in states like Nevada, California, and New Mexico - but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/had-i-stayed-longer-in-some-primaries-i-would-have-probably-done/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [The United States is for a two-state solution. The United States wants to see the Israelis and Palestinians come together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/the-united-states-is-for-a-two-state-solution-the-united-states-wants/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [We're a superpower with a Third World grid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/we-re-a-superpower-with-a-third-world-grid/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) [Explore all 58 Bill Richardson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) ## More American values quotes > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [Most of black America is in housing projects, without jobs, living on welfare. And this is not the case in 'The Cosby Show,' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/most-of-black-america-is-in-housing-projects-without-jobs-living-on/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [The selflessness and service of the veterans I have met and served with are the living embodiment of what America and American values mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/the-selflessness-and-service-of-the-veterans-i-have-met-and-served/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [Americans need to educate themselves, from elementary school onward, about what their country has done abroad. And they need to play a more active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/americans-need-to-educate-themselves-from-elementary-school-onward/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington . . . I'm asking you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-asking-you-to-believe-not-just-in-my-ability-to-bring-about-real/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-country-we-carry-in-our-hearts-is-waiting/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [Where else could one find such a perfect combination of American values -- racism, militarism, capitalism -- all packaged in one 'ideal' symbol, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/where-else-could-one-find-such-a-perfect-combination-of-american/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [“Because extroversion lines up so well with American values, we introverts often deprive ourselves of what we most enjoy and thrive on. So, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/because-extroversion-lines-up-so-well-with-american-values-we/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I am an American, steeped in American values. But I know on an emotional level what it means to be of the Chinese culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/i-am-an-american-steeped-in-american-values-but-i-know-on-an/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [We live in a time of transition, an uneasy era which is likely to endure for the rest of this century... During this period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-live-in-a-time-of-transition-an-uneasy-era-which-is-likely-to/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I think Guantanamo, has been synonymous with the staining of American values and American legal tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-think-guantanamo-has-been-synonymous-with-the-staining-of-american/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [President Bush is endangering our safety, hurting our vital interests, and undermining American values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/president-bush-is-endangering-our-safety-hurting-our-vital-interests/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [The Bush-Cheney administration had betrayed some basic American values. So there was hunger for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-bush-cheney-administration-had-betrayed-some-basic-american/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [If you're a progressive, you can find lots of people who call themselves conservatives, but who agree with you on lots of things. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/if-you-re-a-progressive-you-can-find-lots-of-people-who-call/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [I believed then, and continue to believe now, that the benefits to our security and freedom of widely available cryptography far, far outweigh the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-blaze/i-believed-then-and-continue-to-believe-now-that-the-benefits-to-our/) [Matt Blaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-blaze/) [Browse all 132 American values quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-values/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 with - they all get insured, it helps with traffic safety. I believe education is the key. Yeah, I was for kids of illegal immigrants, if they fulfill the same academic requirements as New Mexico kids, to be eligible for a scholarship. I believe we have to bring the 12 million undocumented workers out of the shadows, set up a standard where they speak English, if they pass background checks, pay back taxes, obey the laws, embrace American values, give them a chance, a path to citizenship, not amnesty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Richardson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illegal-immigrants-you-know-where/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American values" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illegal-immigrants-you-know-where/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/bill-richardson-11674_american-values_if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illega_1442871.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/bill-richardson-11674_american-values_if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illega_1442871.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd3/bill-richardson-11674_american-values_if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illega_1442871.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you want to find a way to keep illegal immigrants, you know where they are, you give them a driver's…” — Bill Richardson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bill Richardson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you want to find a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illegal-immigrants-you-know-where/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/if-you-want-to-find-a-way-to-keep-illegal-immigrants-you-know-where/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```