--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Americans, we have the right to decide…" description: "\"As Americans, we have the right to decide who lives within our borders, and we can't let unscrupulous employers to undercut honest business owners by e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/hank-johnson-23887_american_as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide_1086933.png" --- # As Americans, we have the right to decide who lives within… ![“As Americans, we have the right to decide who lives within our borders, and we can't let unscrupulous employers to undercut honest business owners by exploiting cheap labor.” quote by Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/hank-johnson-23887_american_as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide_1086933.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/hank-johnson-23887_american_as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide_1086933.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/hank-johnson-23887_american_as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide_1086933.png) > “As Americans, we have the right to decide who lives within our borders, and we can't let unscrupulous employers to undercut honest business owners by exploiting cheap labor.” [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immigration policy should protect workers from exploitation while preserving national borders, balancing fairness and security. **In simple terms:** Protect workers, control borders. Key Takeaway Advocate fair labor and secure immigration. Themes immigration labor rights national security Mood serious determined Type political policy When to use this quote - policy drafting - community organizing - business ethics - public debate Key Concepts political science economics Questions to Reflect On - How can we protect workers without xenophobia? - What policies best balance fairness and security? A Different Perspective Balancing protection and openness is politically contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [Americans Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-right-771684/) [Borders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borders/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business owners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-owners/) [Cheap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheap/) [Cheap labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheap-labor/) [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [Employers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employers/) [Exploiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploiting/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-business-1729764/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Let Unscrupulous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-unscrupulous-2788656/) [Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Owners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owners/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Unscrupulous Employers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unscrupulous-employers-2788655/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Within](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/within/) ## Related quotes > [It is difficult, but not impossible, to conduct strictly honest business. It is difficult, but not impossible, to conduct strictly honest business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-is-difficult-but-not-impossible-to-conduct-strictly-honest/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I've found that Hollywood's a really honest business. They don't pull any punches. They tell you exactly what you want-I want the fake breasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-ve-found-that-hollywood-s-a-really-honest-business-they-don-t-pull/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Let's be honest. There's not a business anywhere that is without problems. Business is complicated and imperfect. Every business everywhere is staffed with imperfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-parsons/let-s-be-honest-there-s-not-a-business-anywhere-that-is-without/) [Bob Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-parsons/) > [“A friend who attended a prestigious MBA program once told me about the business ethics course he took there. The professor counseled honest business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/a-friend-who-attended-a-prestigious-mba-program-once-told-me-about/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I think there are a lot of honest people doing honest business on online auctions. But the control on these Web sites is pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-butler/i-think-there-are-a-lot-of-honest-people-doing-honest-business-on/) [Dan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-butler/) > [It is difficult, but not impossible, to conduct strictly honest business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-is-difficult-but-not-impossible-to-conduct-strictly-honest-business/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [To be honest I live among the English and have always found them to be very honest in their business dealings. They are noble,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-shaw/to-be-honest-i-live-among-the-english-and-have-always-found-them-to/) [Fiona Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-shaw/) > [Americans have the right and advantage of being armed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/americans-have-the-right-and-advantage-of-being-armed/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The First Amendment gives all of us - it gives it to me, it gives it to you, it gives all Americans - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-first-amendment-gives-all-of-us-it-gives-it-to-me-it-gives-it-to/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It is every Americans' right and obligation to read and interpret the Constitution for himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-every-americans-right-and-obligation-to-read-and-interpret-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Conquest by force is not sanctioned by God. The Americans have no right to be here. We will defeat them because we believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/conquest-by-force-is-not-sanctioned-by-god-the-americans-have-no/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [Americans have a right to obtain firearms for lawful purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/americans-have-a-right-to-obtain-firearms-for-lawful-purposes/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [Americans have the right to have their medical decisions made by them and their doctors, and not by those bureaucrats sitting behind a computer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/americans-have-the-right-to-have-their-medical-decisions-made-by-them/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The sky's the limit for all Americans if we have the right kind of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/the-sky-s-the-limit-for-all-americans-if-we-have-the-right-kind-of/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [We can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the other possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/we-can-always-count-on-the-americans-to-do-the-right-thing-after-they/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by Hank Johnson > [Billionaires like the Koch brothers, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, and political puppet master Karl Rove should not be able to buy our elections. Secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/billionaires-like-the-koch-brothers-casino-mogul-sheldon-adelson-and/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [Don't let proud get to your head, always humble yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/don-t-let-proud-get-to-your-head-always-humble-yourself/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [The benefits and $174,000 per year salary that we get, we earn. It's not elaborate, it's just a bunch of poppycock that a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/the-benefits-and-174-000-per-year-salary-that-we-get-we-earn-it-s-not/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [The rising costs of higher education coupled with the stress of paying student loans are putting increasing pressure on students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/the-rising-costs-of-higher-education-coupled-with-the-stress-of/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [The military is a machine of war. Not a law enforcement agency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/the-military-is-a-machine-of-war-not-a-law-enforcement-agency/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [My fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/my-fear-is-that-the-whole-island-will-become-so-overly-populated-that/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [Programs like food stamps, unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and job retraining help Americans get back on their feet when they are down and out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/programs-like-food-stamps-unemployment-insurance-medicaid-and-job/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [Because Social Security has not contributed to our debt, Americans should be skeptical of any politician who says that benefits Americans have earned must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/because-social-security-has-not-contributed-to-our-debt-americans/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [America deserves common sense immigration reform that reflects our interests and our values as Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/america-deserves-common-sense-immigration-reform-that-reflects-our/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [Social Security is not just another government spending program. It is a promise from generation to generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/social-security-is-not-just-another-government-spending-program-it-is/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [Most Americans have parents or grandparents who immigrated to this country, and we know the hardships they faced, from learning the language to dealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/most-americans-have-parents-or-grandparents-who-immigrated-to-this/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [We need a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to control the so-called free speech rights of corporations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/we-need-a-constitutional-amendment-to-allow-the-legislature-to/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [I agree with President Roosevelt, and generations since, that American seniors deserve better than poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/i-agree-with-president-roosevelt-and-generations-since-that-american/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [As more government functions are privatized, we find political leaders defunding the public school system, shifting government funds to the private, for-profit school industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/as-more-government-functions-are-privatized-we-find-political-leaders/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) > [The American people have a right to know the source of the money that is being spent. They should be told who is behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/the-american-people-have-a-right-to-know-the-source-of-the-money-that/) [Hank Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) [Explore all 25 Hank Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [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/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As Americans, we have the right to decide who lives within our borders, and we can't let unscrupulous employers to undercut honest business owners by exploiting cheap labor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hank Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide-who-lives-within-our-borders/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide-who-lives-within-our-borders/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/hank-johnson-23887_american_as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide_1086933.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/hank-johnson-23887_american_as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide_1086933.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/hank-johnson-23887_american_as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide_1086933.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As Americans, we have the right to decide who lives within our borders, and we can't let unscrupulous…” — Hank Johnson", "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": "Hank Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As Americans, we have the right...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide-who-lives-within-our-borders/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-johnson/as-americans-we-have-the-right-to-decide-who-lives-within-our-borders/#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 } } ] } ```