--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, I don't think it is amnesty to…" description: "\"Well, I don't think it is amnesty to start with. Second of all, what do you want to do with them? That is the question in response and third of all, it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/john-mccain-465_amnesty_well-i-don-t-think-it-is-amnesty-to-star_2483859.jpg" --- # Well, I don't think it is amnesty to start with. Second of… ![“Well, I don't think it is amnesty to start with. Second of all, what do you want to do with them? That is the question in response and third of all, it is a tough path to citizenship, you have to pay back tax and learn English and have to have a clear record and get to the back of the line behind…” quote by John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/john-mccain-465_amnesty_well-i-don-t-think-it-is-amnesty-to-star_2483859.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/john-mccain-465_amnesty_well-i-don-t-think-it-is-amnesty-to-star_2483859.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/john-mccain-465_amnesty_well-i-don-t-think-it-is-amnesty-to-star_2483859.jpg) > “Well, I don't think it is amnesty to start with. Second of all, what do you want to do with them? That is the question in response and third of all, it is a tough path to citizenship, you have to pay back tax and learn English and have to have a clear record and get to the back of the line behind to the people who have come here legally or waiting legally. So, i just reject that.” [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A critique of granting amnesty, emphasizing legal requirements and the difficulty of the citizenship process. **In simple terms:** Opposes amnesty, stresses legal hurdles for citizenship. Key Takeaway Consider reforms that balance fairness and security. Themes immigration law citizenship policy Mood critical concerned Type political policy When to use this quote - policy debate - legal reform - public opinion Key Concepts amnesty taxes language learning background checks Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives to amnesty could address both security and compassion? - How can the process be made fairer for all applicants? A Different Perspective May overlook humanitarian concerns and integration benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amnesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amnesty/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-reform/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Well, I don't think it is amnesty to start with. Second of all, what do you want to do with them? That is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/well-i-don-t-think-it-is-amnesty-to-start-with-second-of-all-what-do/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I think an amnesty program... which is what the president (George W. Bush) has proposed... those are reasonable proposals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-think-an-amnesty-program-which-is-what-the-president-george-w-bush/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I think we should be pushing for amnesty and a path to citizenship for every undocumented person residing in the United States who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-think-we-should-be-pushing-for-amnesty-and-a-path-to-citizenship/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [From a policy point of view, I don't think it's the right approach. I don't like the idea of having millions of people here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/from-a-policy-point-of-view-i-don-t-think-it-s-the-right-approach-i/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [These are people who wanted to provide for their family and wanted a better life. We've got to have a secure border. But we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/these-are-people-who-wanted-to-provide-for-their-family-and-wanted-a/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [I want immigration reform to come into fruition, and I want it to be comprehensive, and I want it to have a path to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-want-immigration-reform-to-come-into-fruition-and-i-want-it-to-be/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [It's amnesty that America can't afford. We have to stop people from coming in illegally. This will be a green light for anyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barletta/it-s-amnesty-that-america-can-t-afford-we-have-to-stop-people-from/) [Lou Barletta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barletta/) > [When you take comprehensive, then we're dealing with certain issues like full citizenship ... And whatever else we disagree on, I think we would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/when-you-take-comprehensive-then-we-re-dealing-with-certain-issues/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [I will fight every single day to pass comprehensive immigration-reform legislation with a path to citizenship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-will-fight-every-single-day-to-pass-comprehensive-immigration/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We need to have comprehensive immigration reform and that means there should be a path for citizenship. And certainly I support the DREAM Act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/we-need-to-have-comprehensive-immigration-reform-and-that-means-there/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [I appreciate the good work that senators in both parties have put into trying to fix our broken immigration system. There are some good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-appreciate-the-good-work-that-senators-in-both-parties-have-put/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I'm for the DREAM Act. It makes so much sense. Following the implementation of the DREAM Act, we'll have a case study we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beto-o-rourke/i-m-for-the-dream-act-it-makes-so-much-sense-following-the/) [Beto O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beto-o-rourke/) > [The U.S. immigration system is the most generous in the world, providing each year more green cards for legal permanent residence with a clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/the-u-s-immigration-system-is-the-most-generous-in-the-world/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [I believe we should build a wall - it might or might not slow immigration but it's worth a try and certainly that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-samuelson/i-believe-we-should-build-a-wall-it-might-or-might-not-slow/) [Robert J. Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-samuelson/) > [We will have a mechanism for dealing with people in this country that - you heard the word humanely again. It is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/we-will-have-a-mechanism-for-dealing-with-people-in-this-country-that/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) ## More by John McCain > [I have the utmost confidence in General Mattis, General Flynn, General Kelly, Dan Coates. I couldn't have picked a better team. And so I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-have-the-utmost-confidence-in-general-mattis-general-flynn-general/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Washington is a Hollywood for ugly people. Hollywood is a Washington for the simpleminded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/washington-is-a-hollywood-for-ugly-people-hollywood-is-a-washington/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I think that it's important that we understand the importance of the Hispanic vote in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-think-that-it-s-important-that-we-understand-the-importance-of-the/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [It is perhaps my greatest hope, Mr. President, that some day we'll consider tax and spending measures with no one else in mind but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/it-is-perhaps-my-greatest-hope-mr-president-that-some-day-we-ll/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [This kind of horror has become all too familiar to us. As parents, Cindy and I offer our prayers to the memory of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/this-kind-of-horror-has-become-all-too-familiar-to-us-as-parents/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [The truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. It sometimes causes us difficulties at home and abroad. It is sometimes used by our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-truth-is-sometimes-a-hard-pill-to-swallow-it-sometimes-causes-us/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Countries, not just their armies, win wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/countries-not-just-their-armies-win-wars/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [My greatest fear is the Iranians acquire a nuclear weapon and give it to a terrorist organization. And there is a real threat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/my-greatest-fear-is-the-iranians-acquire-a-nuclear-weapon-and-give-it/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Presidential ambition is a disease that can only be cured by embalming fluid .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/presidential-ambition-is-a-disease-that-can-only-be-cured-by/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [3 "amnesty" didn't mean rewarding illegal behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/3-amnesty-didn-t-mean-rewarding-illegal-behavior/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [On the subject of Osama bin Laden... we will track him down. We will capture him. We will bring him to justice, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/on-the-subject-of-osama-bin-laden-we-will-track-him-down-we-will/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [That's Joe Biden right there - unbowed, unbroken and unable to stop talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/that-s-joe-biden-right-there-unbowed-unbroken-and-unable-to-stop/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) [Explore all 539 John McCain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) ## More Amnesty quotes > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [How arrogant - how very far from humility - would be the self-satisfied, smug assurance that God, a tidy-up-after-us God will come and clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/how-arrogant-how-very-far-from-humility-would-be-the-self-satisfied/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Hillary Clinton has pledged to keep both of these illegal amnesty programs, including the 2014 amnesty which has been blocked by the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-has-pledged-to-keep-both-of-these-illegal-amnesty/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [3 "amnesty" didn't mean rewarding illegal behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/3-amnesty-didn-t-mean-rewarding-illegal-behavior/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Why don't Republicans spend all their airtime attacking the media for lying about what Obama's amnesty does and what the Democrats are doing? It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/why-don-t-republicans-spend-all-their-airtime-attacking-the-media-for/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [...we will not grant amnesty to illegal aliens in this Congress or, hopefully ever again. We did that once. Everybody said it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-gramm/we-will-not-grant-amnesty-to-illegal-aliens-in-this-congress-or/) [Phil Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-gramm/) > [ I take the Constitution very seriously. The biggest problems that we're facing right now have to do with \[the president\] trying to bring more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-take-the-constitution-very-seriously-the-biggest-problems-that-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I worked 30 years to try to restore respect for the rule of law because of Ronald Reagan's amnesty in 1986. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-king/i-worked-30-years-to-try-to-restore-respect-for-the-rule-of-law/) [Steve King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-king/) > [You are going to hear many things from Mr. Trump today in his speech on immigration. One, no amnesty. He is absolutely going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/you-are-going-to-hear-many-things-from-mr-trump-today-in-his-speech/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [I supported this bill. I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-supported-this-bill-i-believe-in-the-idea-of-amnesty-for-those-who/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Amnesty is a disaster, we need strong borders. We have no country if we have no border. In New Hampshire, the biggest complaint is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/amnesty-is-a-disaster-we-need-strong-borders-we-have-no-country-if-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [no study has brought out any solid evidence that the death penalty deters crime. In fact, Amnesty reports that 'the murder rate in states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette-bosco/no-study-has-brought-out-any-solid-evidence-that-the-death-penalty/) [Antoinette Bosco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette-bosco/) > [We try it practically every time it comes up, be it amnesty, be it any other issue they want. We try and it gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-try-it-practically-every-time-it-comes-up-be-it-amnesty-be-it-any/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ This bill \[Immigration Reform and Control act of 1986\] is a gamble, a riverboat gamble. There is no guarantee that employer sanctions will work… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/this-bill-immigration-reform-and-control-act-of-1986-is-a-gamble-a/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [ No one believed \[the 1986 amnesty for illegal aliens\] was tough enough on illegal immigration, and it didn't give enough flexibility on future legal immigration. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/no-one-believed-the-1986-amnesty-for-illegal-aliens-was-tough-enough/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) [Browse all 195 Amnesty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amnesty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, I don't think it is amnesty to start with. Second of all, what do you want to do with them? 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