--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the undocumented immigrants, the big…" description: "\"For the undocumented immigrants, the big priority is just to get out from the shadows, be able to get a driver's license, buy an airplane ticket and st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/gail-collins-3567_able_for-the-undocumented-immigrants-the-big_2475547.jpg" --- # For the undocumented immigrants, the big priority is just… ![“For the undocumented immigrants, the big priority is just to get out from the shadows, be able to get a driver's license, buy an airplane ticket and stop worrying about sudden deportation. But for the country as a whole, it's crucial that everybody have a citizen's stake in the nation's welfare.” quote by Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/gail-collins-3567_able_for-the-undocumented-immigrants-the-big_2475547.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/gail-collins-3567_able_for-the-undocumented-immigrants-the-big_2475547.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/gail-collins-3567_able_for-the-undocumented-immigrants-the-big_2475547.jpg) > “For the undocumented immigrants, the big priority is just to get out from the shadows, be able to get a driver's license, buy an airplane ticket and stop worrying about sudden deportation. But for the country as a whole, it's crucial that everybody have a citizen's stake in the nation's welfare.” [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Undocumented immigrants need basic legal protections and integration, while the nation benefits when everyone participates in civic life. **In simple terms:** Legal security and civic inclusion are essential for both individuals and society. Key Takeaway Promote policies that grant legal status and civic rights. Themes immigration citizenship social integration Mood hopeful concerned Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - apply for driver's licenses - vote - access public services - community involvement Key Concepts legal rights civic engagement national welfare Questions to Reflect On - How can communities support undocumented residents while addressing public concerns? - What policies best balance security and inclusion? A Different Perspective Implementation may face political resistance and resource constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Deportation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deportation/) [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Stop worrying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-worrying/) [Undocumented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undocumented/) [Undocumented immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undocumented-immigrants/) [Welfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [The wise decision by President Obama to grant some undocumented immigrants the right to remain in the United States for two years without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/the-wise-decision-by-president-obama-to-grant-some-undocumented/) [Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/) > [In 2007, when I was governor of New York, I proposed that our state once again permit undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver's license.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/in-2007-when-i-was-governor-of-new-york-i-proposed-that-our-state/) [Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/) > [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 > [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/) ## More by Gail Collins > [The Bushes were certainly part of Texas in their mind, but they didn't have the kind of political flavor that you normally find in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-bushes-were-certainly-part-of-texas-in-their-mind-but-they-didn-t/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [I don't think the folks in the low-tax states really want to go into a fairness discussion. Residents of Connecticut and New York would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/i-don-t-think-the-folks-in-the-low-tax-states-really-want-to-go-into/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [I would walk a thousand miles To feel your hugs and see your smiles But then one day we had to part The hardest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/i-would-walk-a-thousand-miles-to-feel-your-hugs-and-see-your-smiles/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [“One law prohibited blacks from testifying against whites in court, and carefully defined “negro” as anyone who had one nonwhite grandparent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/one-law-prohibited-blacks-from-testifying-against-whites-in-court-and/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [“An estimated 400 women disguised themselves as men to fight in the Civil War. Many were like Amy Clarke, who enlisted so she could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/an-estimated-400-women-disguised-themselves-as-men-to-fight-in-the/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Billy Jean King could not get credit when her husband was in law school and she was winning the Wimbledon, because he had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/billy-jean-king-could-not-get-credit-when-her-husband-was-in-law/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Sarah Palin is treated like a bimbo sometimes, but she has never given the public the respect they deserve. She acts silly and doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/sarah-palin-is-treated-like-a-bimbo-sometimes-but-she-has-never-given/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [There's more student debt than credit card debt! Everywhere I go, I run into young people trying to build careers while they keep shelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/there-s-more-student-debt-than-credit-card-debt-everywhere-i-go-i-run/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Women in America will have to find an answer for the pressures of work and family, but if you really care about women's issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/women-in-america-will-have-to-find-an-answer-for-the-pressures-of/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [The idea that 'if you don't like how things are going, you can just leave' is so ingrained in Texas, the secession movement is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-idea-that-if-you-don-t-like-how-things-are-going-you-can-just/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [I admired the way McCain worked on campaign finance reform. I admired the way Nancy Pelosi stiffened the Democrats' spine during the health care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/i-admired-the-way-mccain-worked-on-campaign-finance-reform-i-admired/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Some of our national heroines were defined by the fact that they never nested - they were peripatetic crusaders like Susan B. Anthony, Clara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/some-of-our-national-heroines-were-defined-by-the-fact-that-they/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [When the women's movement began, it was a middle-class phenomenon. Certainly, black women had other stuff to think about in the '60s besides a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/when-the-women-s-movement-began-it-was-a-middle-class-phenomenon/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Downplaying their faults is pretty much the point of campaigns. 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