---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The people that work the border will tell…"
description: "\"The people that work the border will tell you that physical barriers, backed up by men and women, is what we need to secure the southwest border.\" — Jo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/john-f-kelly-27253_fitness_the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tel_1172459.jpg"
---

#  The people that work the border will tell you that…

![“The people that work the border will tell you that physical barriers, backed up by men and women, is what we need to secure the southwest border.” quote by John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/john-f-kelly-27253_fitness_the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tel_1172459.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/john-f-kelly-27253_fitness_the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tel_1172459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/john-f-kelly-27253_fitness_the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tel_1172459.jpg)

> “The people that work the border will tell you that physical barriers, backed up by men and women, is what we need to secure the southwest border.”

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Physical barriers and personnel are presented as essential for securing the southwest border, emphasizing a hard‑line approach.

**In simple terms:** Barriers and staff are seen as needed for border security.

Key Takeaway

Consider both physical and policy solutions.

Themes

security politics immigration

Mood

serious concerned

Type

political policy

When to use this quote

- policy debate
- law enforcement planning
- community safety discussions

Key Concepts

border control deterrence national sovereignty

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternatives could address border challenges?
- How do barriers affect local communities?

A Different Perspective

May overlook humanitarian impacts and root causes of migration.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [ At the current rate of 28 miles of SBInet \[Secure Border Initiative network\] technology every 4.5 years, it would take 320 years - or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cuellar/at-the-current-rate-of-28-miles-of-sbinet-secure-border-initiative/)

[Henry Cuellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cuellar/)

> [The world is changing and the physical barriers are down now. It's time for the emotional barriers to go down. And what better place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-san-giacomo/the-world-is-changing-and-the-physical-barriers-are-down-now-it-s/)

[Laura San Giacomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-san-giacomo/)

> [One classic paper compared the effects of right-to-work laws on factory jobs in neighboring counties, on either side of a right-to-work border. It found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-glaeser/one-classic-paper-compared-the-effects-of-right-to-work-laws-on/)

[Edward Glaeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-glaeser/)

> [I think what Democrats need to do is they need to work for the country and make sure that not only the southern border…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-think-what-democrats-need-to-do-is-they-need-to-work-for-the/)

[Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/)

> [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

> [These men of many nations must be taught American ways, the English language, and the right way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/these-men-of-many-nations-must-be-taught-american-ways-the-english/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [“...the haunted always take refuge in stillness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/the-haunted-always-take-refuge-in-stillness/)

[Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/)

> [“If all the developed countries would let in just 3% more immigrants, the world’s poor would have $305 billion more to spend, say scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/if-all-the-developed-countries-would-let-in-just-3-more-immigrants/)

[Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/)

> [Ed Koch once said that New York City is where immigrants come to audition for America. That's what happened to my parents; that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/ed-koch-once-said-that-new-york-city-is-where-immigrants-come-to/)

[Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/)

> [A lot of Broadway has that immigrant narrative of America as a place where you can become something else against all odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-kass/a-lot-of-broadway-has-that-immigrant-narrative-of-america-as-a-place/)

[Deborah Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-kass/)

> [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/)

> [We need to fight to prove to people that it is possible to form an E.U. migration policy that is in line with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-orban/we-need-to-fight-to-prove-to-people-that-it-is-possible-to-form-an-e/)

[Viktor Orban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-orban/)

> [Europe is creating the flight of refugees that's tearing it apart politically, and leading rightwing nationalist parties to gain power to withdraw from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/europe-is-creating-the-flight-of-refugees-that-s-tearing-it-apart/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/)

[Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/)

## More by John F. Kelly

> [I don't agree with registering people based on ethnicity or religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/i-don-t-agree-with-registering-people-based-on-ethnicity-or-religion/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [I think we could very easily suffer a seriously catastrophic cyber event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/i-think-we-could-very-easily-suffer-a-seriously-catastrophic-cyber/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [Years ago, people didn't wear seatbelts. Now, most people wouldn't get in a car without putting a seatbelt on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/years-ago-people-didn-t-wear-seatbelts-now-most-people-wouldn-t-get/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [One day, you'll get out of the Marine Corps; you'll put your uniform up, but you'll never not be a Marine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/one-day-you-ll-get-out-of-the-marine-corps-you-ll-put-your-uniform-up/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [My sincere advice to any citizen considering moving to the United States and crossing our boundaries in irregular migration, my best advice is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/my-sincere-advice-to-any-citizen-considering-moving-to-the-united/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [I work for one man. His name is Donald Trump. He has told me one thing: 'Secure the border.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/i-work-for-one-man-his-name-is-donald-trump-he-has-told-me-one-thing/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [I'm pretty committed to the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/i-m-pretty-committed-to-the-constitution/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [The one thing I was always told is you absolutely have to tell truth to power. Whether you're a second lieutenant working with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/the-one-thing-i-was-always-told-is-you-absolutely-have-to-tell-truth/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [Those with less of a sense of service to the nation never understand it when men and women of character step forward to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/those-with-less-of-a-sense-of-service-to-the-nation-never-understand/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [My first time overseas was taking 10,000 tons of beer to Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/my-first-time-overseas-was-taking-10-000-tons-of-beer-to-vietnam/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [If the Marines today are doing exactly the same thing their dads did in Vietnam and their granddads did in Korea and World War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/if-the-marines-today-are-doing-exactly-the-same-thing-their-dads-did/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [If there's a country, and it's dangerous, and we deploy a U.S. military man or woman, if there's only one there, and they never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/if-there-s-a-country-and-it-s-dangerous-and-we-deploy-a-u-s-military/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [There will be no use of military forces in immigration. There will be no - repeat, no - mass deportations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/there-will-be-no-use-of-military-forces-in-immigration-there-will-be/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [We are at war and, like it or not, that is a fact. It is not Bush's war, and it is not Obama's war.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/we-are-at-war-and-like-it-or-not-that-is-a-fact-it-is-not-bush-s-war/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

> [We cannot gamble with American lives. I will not gamble with American lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/we-cannot-gamble-with-american-lives-i-will-not-gamble-with-american/)

[John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

[Explore all 20 John F. Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/)

## More Fitness quotes

> [I train my muscles, and I do a lot of stretching, and try to kick higher. But for me, practicing kung-fu is a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chow/i-train-my-muscles-and-i-do-a-lot-of-stretching-and-try-to-kick/)

[Stephen Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chow/)

> [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/)

[Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/)

> [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/)

[Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/)

> [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/)

[Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/)

[Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/)

> [I always wanted to make sure that within my unit that I was never the weak person. So I made sure that my physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carmouche/i-always-wanted-to-make-sure-that-within-my-unit-that-i-was-never-the/)

[Liz Carmouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carmouche/)

> [“For those filled with regret, perhaps the most needful exercise of proactivity is to realize that past mistakes are also out there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-those-filled-with-regret-perhaps-the-most-needful-exercise-of/)

[Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/)

> [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/)

[Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/)

> [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/)

[George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/)

> [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/)

[Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/)

> [“He sighed. "Look, love, I know I seem like a tactical genius, but really, I'm just a magician who occasionally kills a bunny or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/he-sighed-look-love-i-know-i-seem-like-a-tactical-genius-but-really-i/)

[Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/)

> [There are things you can do in training like learn from the manager and talk with team-mates, but it's the game that tests you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burke/there-are-things-you-can-do-in-training-like-learn-from-the-manager/)

[Oliver Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burke/)

> [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/)

[Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/)

[Browse all 13,910 Fitness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The people that work the border will tell you that physical barriers, backed up by men and women, is what we need to secure the southwest border.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John F. Kelly"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tell-you-that-physical-barriers/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fitness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tell-you-that-physical-barriers/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/john-f-kelly-27253_fitness_the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tel_1172459.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/john-f-kelly-27253_fitness_the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tel_1172459.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/john-f-kelly-27253_fitness_the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tel_1172459.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The people that work the border will tell you that physical barriers, backed up by men and women, is what we…” — John F. Kelly",
                "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": "John F. Kelly",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The people that work the border...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tell-you-that-physical-barriers/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/the-people-that-work-the-border-will-tell-you-that-physical-barriers/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
