American workers Quote by Lamar S. Smith
“A massive new guest worker program hurts American workers. ... If a guest worker program were to provide a path to citizenship, we would be rewarding lawbreakers with the greatest honor our country can bestow - citizenship.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Congressional Record, 1995
A guest‑worker program that leads to citizenship rewards illegal behavior and harms domestic labor markets.
In simple terms: Granting citizenship to undocumented workers harms American workers.
Prioritize fair immigration and protect local jobs.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- job fairs
- policy debates
- community meetings
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Should pathways to citizenship be limited?
- How can we protect workers while aiding migrants?
Balancing humanitarian concerns with labor protection is complex.