--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know what 'operational control'…" description: "\"I don't know what 'operational control' of the border means, but I do understand the English language. And as I understand that phrase, that's not true..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/john-cornyn-11060_border_i-don-t-know-what-operational-control-of_1624144.jpg" --- # I don't know what 'operational control' of the border… ![“I don't know what 'operational control' of the border means, but I do understand the English language. And as I understand that phrase, that's not true. We do not have operational control.” quote by John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/john-cornyn-11060_border_i-don-t-know-what-operational-control-of_1624144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/john-cornyn-11060_border_i-don-t-know-what-operational-control-of_1624144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/993/john-cornyn-11060_border_i-don-t-know-what-operational-control-of_1624144.jpg) > “I don't know what 'operational control' of the border means, but I do understand the English language. And as I understand that phrase, that's not true. We do not have operational control.” [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims that despite not having actual control over the border, the term “operational control” is being misused to suggest otherwise. **In simple terms:** The phrase is being used incorrectly to imply control. Key Takeaway Question the language used in policy discussions. Themes politics border security communication Mood critical skeptical Type analytical political When to use this quote - legislative debate - media reporting - public statements Key Concepts semantic distortion policy rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - Who truly manages border operations? - How does language shape public perception? A Different Perspective The claim may be contested by officials with actual operational authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Border](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-language/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Operational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operational/) ## Related quotes > [The border means more than a customs house, a passport officer, a man with a gun. Over there everything is going to be different;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/the-border-means-more-than-a-customs-house-a-passport-officer-a-man/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [ I'm not an expert on the ways of Washington \[but\] it makes no sense to me that we're not funding control of our border. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-m-not-an-expert-on-the-ways-of-washington-but-it-makes-no-sense-to/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [Canada has as much or more control of the border than we do. Getting into Mexico is a lot easier than getting into Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/canada-has-as-much-or-more-control-of-the-border-than-we-do-getting/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [Korea and the U.S. have maintained a combined forces command system for a long time. Even if we were to get operational control back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moon-jae-in/korea-and-the-u-s-have-maintained-a-combined-forces-command-system/) [Moon Jae-in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moon-jae-in/) > [As a sovereign state, we should have operational command of our forces returned to us at an appropriate time. Korea and the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moon-jae-in/as-a-sovereign-state-we-should-have-operational-command-of-our-forces/) [Moon Jae-in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moon-jae-in/) > [We can't really have a serious debate about reform on immigration if we don't have operational control of the border. ... With the executive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mccaul/we-can-t-really-have-a-serious-debate-about-reform-on-immigration-if/) [Michael McCaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mccaul/) > [I believe that the great majority of people coming here illegally have no other option. They want to provide for their family. But we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-believe-that-the-great-majority-of-people-coming-here-illegally/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [ We \[americans\] need to control our border just like people have to control who goes in and out of their house. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/we-americans-need-to-control-our-border-just-like-people-have-to/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [It's not possible in a free country to completely control the border without us losing our freedoms and liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/it-s-not-possible-in-a-free-country-to-completely-control-the-border/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [You can love the Mexican culture, you can love your Mexican-American wife and also believe that we need to control the border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/you-can-love-the-mexican-culture-you-can-love-your-mexican-american/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [“They’re measurements which express the goal of making money perfectly well, but which also permit you to develop operational rules for running your plant,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliyahu-m-goldratt/they-re-measurements-which-express-the-goal-of-making-money-perfectly/) [Eliyahu M. Goldratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliyahu-m-goldratt/) > [Back when I was looking for my next step and was researching Gannett, I was interested in who was leading the various businesses within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracia-martore/back-when-i-was-looking-for-my-next-step-and-was-researching-gannett/) [Gracia Martore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracia-martore/) > [Shortly after we arrived in Baghdad, we had another conversation with the ambassador. He said that he wanted us to give him the timeline,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-karpinski/shortly-after-we-arrived-in-baghdad-we-had-another-conversation-with/) [Janis Karpinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-karpinski/) > [In effect, you cannot stop Iraq from growing nasty bugs in the basement. You can stop them from putting operational warheads on working missiles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/in-effect-you-cannot-stop-iraq-from-growing-nasty-bugs-in-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [I'm not going to go into operational matters, obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-andrews/i-m-not-going-to-go-into-operational-matters-obviously/) Kevin Andrews ## More by John Cornyn > [There is no doubt where the founding fathers stood on this issue. They believed that people of faith should be permitted to express themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/there-is-no-doubt-where-the-founding-fathers-stood-on-this-issue-they/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [I am pleased to report that Texas is known for having one of the strongest set of open government laws in our Nation. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/i-am-pleased-to-report-that-texas-is-known-for-having-one-of-the/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [You can always find a reason to say no. It's the easiest vote. It's also not exactly a red badge of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/you-can-always-find-a-reason-to-say-no-it-s-the-easiest-vote-it-s/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [The enemy is not just terrorism. It is the threat posed specifically by Islamist terrorism, by Bin Ladin and others who draw on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/the-enemy-is-not-just-terrorism-it-is-the-threat-posed-specifically/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [But I think the - what the tea party movement demonstrates, and I think the, the, the enthusiasm that we're seeing from independents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-i-think-the-what-the-tea-party-movement-demonstrates-and-i-think/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [If there is a nuclear tactic being used here, I submit it is the use of that obstruction where a willful minority blocks a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/if-there-is-a-nuclear-tactic-being-used-here-i-submit-it-is-the-use/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Think for a moment about what Obamacare has done: The federal government has come up with its own (ever-evolving) definition of 'health insurance,' which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/think-for-a-moment-about-what-obamacare-has-done-the-federal/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [The Supreme Court has never ruled that Congress can use the Commerce Clause to require individuals to engage in an activity they have chosen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/the-supreme-court-has-never-ruled-that-congress-can-use-the-commerce/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Depictions or expressions of sex, violence, crime are all permitted virtually without limit; but religion, it seems, never.No wonder many in America seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/depictions-or-expressions-of-sex-violence-crime-are-all-permitted/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [But I do think its unwise, and it - to build a mosque at the site where 3,000 Americans lost their lives as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-i-do-think-its-unwise-and-it-to-build-a-mosque-at-the-site-where/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Sometimes, it might be called conservative; sometimes it might be called liberal. But the point is that the meaning of the Constitution and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/sometimes-it-might-be-called-conservative-sometimes-it-might-be/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Raising taxes is the last thing we should do amid the weakest economic recovery since World War II. Unfortunately, even if we avoid the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/raising-taxes-is-the-last-thing-we-should-do-amid-the-weakest/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [And if you like 14.4 percent unemployment, if you like the fact that 70 percent of home mortgages in Nevada are underwater, then stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/and-if-you-like-14-4-percent-unemployment-if-you-like-the-fact-that/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Our military service members put their lives on the line to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans - yet many still face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/our-military-service-members-put-their-lives-on-the-line-to-protect/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [By the Obama administration's reasoning, it would be constitutionally permissible to make Americans purchase nearly any product (broccoli, gym membership) that improved their health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/by-the-obama-administration-s-reasoning-it-would-be-constitutionally/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) [Explore all 62 John Cornyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) ## More Border quotes > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [“Tear down your border of thicket and vine creating a free world, yours and mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-cosgrove/tear-down-your-border-of-thicket-and-vine-creating-a-free-world-yours/) [Stephen Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-cosgrove/) > [We believe that there are aspects of border security that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-believe-that-there-are-aspects-of-border-security-that-democrats/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [My message to everyone: the next time you hear about migrant children near the border, just picture them as your own. Then think what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/my-message-to-everyone-the-next-time-you-hear-about-migrant-children/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I think there are definitely a lot of subjects I don't share with people, but I'm not sure where that border is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/i-think-there-are-definitely-a-lot-of-subjects-i-don-t-share-with/) [Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/) > [Border security is not only related to resources competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailemariam-desalegn/border-security-is-not-only-related-to-resources-competition/) [Hailemariam Desalegn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailemariam-desalegn/) > [In 2019 folks were coming across the border and were sitting down, they were sitting down waiting for Border Patrol to come up because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-wolf/in-2019-folks-were-coming-across-the-border-and-were-sitting-down/) [Chad Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-wolf/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The border is varied depending on the geography, depending on the specific venue, and depending on the conduct of individuals around it. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-border-is-varied-depending-on-the-geography-depending-on-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [It's not rocket science. It's not super high technology to construct border barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/it-s-not-rocket-science-it-s-not-super-high-technology-to-construct/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [The president has promised greater border security. We can agree to that. A literal wall might not be the most effective means to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-president-has-promised-greater-border-security-we-can-agree-to/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“All of the things that wore you down, even as that was balanced by the electric feeling of being on the side of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/all-of-the-things-that-wore-you-down-even-as-that-was-balanced-by-the/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [“Love for one's country is great but why should that love stop at that border?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/love-for-one-s-country-is-great-but-why-should-that-love-stop-at-that/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [ I'm not an expert on the ways of Washington \[but\] it makes no sense to me that we're not funding control of our border. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-m-not-an-expert-on-the-ways-of-washington-but-it-makes-no-sense-to/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [The Biden administration is not just letting a record number of illegal immigrants cross our border, they are bringing them here. They are prohibiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/the-biden-administration-is-not-just-letting-a-record-number-of/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) [Browse all 475 Border quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know what 'operational control' of the border means, but I do understand the English language. And as I understand that phrase, that's not true. 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