--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A broken immigration system means broken…" description: "\"A broken immigration system means broken families means broken lives. That's what is at stake.\" — Jose Antonio Vargas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/jose-antonio-vargas-14865_broken_a-broken-immigration-system-means-broken_3114241.jpg" --- # A broken immigration system means broken families means… ![“A broken immigration system means broken families means broken lives. That's what is at stake.” quote by Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/jose-antonio-vargas-14865_broken_a-broken-immigration-system-means-broken_3114241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/jose-antonio-vargas-14865_broken_a-broken-immigration-system-means-broken_3114241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/jose-antonio-vargas-14865_broken_a-broken-immigration-system-means-broken_3114241.jpg) > “A broken immigration system means broken families means broken lives. That's what is at stake.” [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A broken immigration system destroys families and lives, making the stakes personal and urgent **In simple terms:** Immigration failures harm families and lives Key Takeaway Advocate for humane policy change Themes human rights family stability justice Mood urgent determined Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - community organizing - legal aid - public testimony - media campaigns Key Concepts policy analysis social equity human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals influence systemic reform? - What stories best illustrate the human cost? A Different Perspective Policy change is slow and politically contested ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Broken Families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-families-644488/) [Broken Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-immigration-854067/) [Broken Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-lives-545729/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-means-413964/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-broken-1166526/) ## Related quotes > [We must fix our broken immigration system. That means stopping illegal immigration. And it means welcoming properly vetted legal immigrants, regardless of their race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/we-must-fix-our-broken-immigration-system-that-means-stopping-illegal/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [It might sound strange coming from a home secretary - I'm a big fan of immigration and what it means for our country, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-javid/it-might-sound-strange-coming-from-a-home-secretary-i-m-a-big-fan-of/) [Sajid Javid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-javid/) > [President Obama's executive actions on immigration are designed to temporarily address major flaws in our broken immigration system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/president-obama-s-executive-actions-on-immigration-are-designed-to/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [It is so difficult to, day in and day out, hear these incredibly painful stories of the destructive nature of our broken immigration system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/it-is-so-difficult-to-day-in-and-day-out-hear-these-incredibly/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [The church also does not condone a broken immigration system in the U.S., one that too easily can lead to the exploitation, abuse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/the-church-also-does-not-condone-a-broken-immigration-system-in-the-u/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) > [The time to fix our broken immigration system is now... We need stronger enforcement on the border and at the workplace... But for reform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-time-to-fix-our-broken-immigration-system-is-now-we-need-stronger/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The emphasis has been on rights, not responsibilities. When it comes to piecing together the fragments of broken lives, we have tended to place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/the-emphasis-has-been-on-rights-not-responsibilities-when-it-comes-to/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [In spite of all the dishonour, the broken standards, the broken lives, The broken faith in one place or another, There was something left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-spite-of-all-the-dishonour-the-broken-standards-the-broken-lives/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I scream for everything that has gone wrong. 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Wisdom flows from broken lives.” My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ohagwu/sweet-wine-pours-from-broken-pitchers-wisdom-flows-from-broken-lives/) [Joy Ohagwu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ohagwu/) > [Broken promises lead to broken dreams, Broken dreams lead to broken lives, Broken lives lead to no lives at all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/broken-promises-lead-to-broken-dreams-broken-dreams-lead-to-broken/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The crime and violence in the black community is a prime example of the damaging effect of broken families and single female-headed households.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/the-crime-and-violence-in-the-black-community-is-a-prime-example-of/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [There is far too much of divorce, wherein hearts are broken, and sometimes lives are destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-is-far-too-much-of-divorce-wherein-hearts-are-broken-and/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Even when the strings are broken in our lives, the sweet music plays on in our hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/even-when-the-strings-are-broken-in-our-lives-the-sweet-music-plays/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [There is one unmistakable lesson in American history: A community that allows a large number of young men to grow up in broken families,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/there-is-one-unmistakable-lesson-in-american-history-a-community-that/) [Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/) ## More by Jose Antonio Vargas > [I remember the first thing I did when I found out I was illegal was to get rid of my thick Filipino accent. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/i-remember-the-first-thing-i-did-when-i-found-out-i-was-illegal-was/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [A friend said to me I'm like a walking New Yorker article. It's true! That's how I write. That's how I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/a-friend-said-to-me-i-m-like-a-walking-new-yorker-article-it-s-true/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [Something is fundamentally amiss when you refer to a person as illegal. Bottom line. That's why we so easily talk about this like we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/something-is-fundamentally-amiss-when-you-refer-to-a-person-as/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [The only reason I became a writer was so I could exist on a piece of paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/the-only-reason-i-became-a-writer-was-so-i-could-exist-on-a-piece-of/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [The last thing reporters and editors want to be told is what to do and how to write. They don't want to be some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/the-last-thing-reporters-and-editors-want-to-be-told-is-what-to-do/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [I like Q&A's better than articles sometimes because I feel like I'd rather hear somebody actually talk or wrestle with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/i-like-q-a-s-better-than-articles-sometimes-because-i-feel-like-i-d/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [The immigration bill is going to pass. We're going to have a bill. It's going to get through the Senate. I think the fundamentals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/the-immigration-bill-is-going-to-pass-we-re-going-to-have-a-bill-it-s/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [I got here when I was 12, I found out I was undocumented when I was 16, I became a journalist when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/i-got-here-when-i-was-12-i-found-out-i-was-undocumented-when-i-was-16/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [The greatest gift that we have as human beings is our ability to empathize. That's why I think personal stories matter so much. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/the-greatest-gift-that-we-have-as-human-beings-is-our-ability-to/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [The DREAMers are the safe ones, right? It's okay to advocate for the DREAMers because they're the English-speaking, college-educated ones, right? It's so interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/the-dreamers-are-the-safe-ones-right-it-s-okay-to-advocate-for-the/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [I'm not excusing the illegal act. I am here illegally. I'm here illegally, without authorization. That's a fact. That's nothing you can call the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/i-m-not-excusing-the-illegal-act-i-am-here-illegally-i-m-here/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [I think I've always been paranoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/i-think-i-ve-always-been-paranoid/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [I grew up in newsrooms. I've been in newsrooms since I was 17 years old. Journalism has been like my church; it's been like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/i-grew-up-in-newsrooms-i-ve-been-in-newsrooms-since-i-was-17-years/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [I always felt like I had the word "illegal" tattooed on my forehead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/i-always-felt-like-i-had-the-word-illegal-tattooed-on-my-forehead/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) > [America is White and Black and Latino and Asian. America is mixed. America is immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-vargas/america-is-white-and-black-and-latino-and-asian-america-is-mixed/) [Jose Antonio Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) [Explore all 45 Jose Antonio Vargas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-vargas/) ## More Broken quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. 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I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [My life was incoherent to me. I felt it quivering, spitting out broken teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-fox/my-life-was-incoherent-to-me-i-felt-it-quivering-spitting-out-broken/) [Paula Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-fox/) > [Don't fix what's not broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-atkins/don-t-fix-what-s-not-broken/) [Robert Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-atkins/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. 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