--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need legal immigration as an…" description: "\"We need legal immigration as an alternative to illegal immigration and a way of getting the millions of unauthorized immigrants already here to get leg..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/luis-gutierrez-8772_compliance_we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternat_498302.png" --- # We need legal immigration as an alternative to illegal… ![“We need legal immigration as an alternative to illegal immigration and a way of getting the millions of unauthorized immigrants already here to get legal and get in compliance with our laws.” quote by Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/luis-gutierrez-8772_compliance_we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternat_498302.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/luis-gutierrez-8772_compliance_we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternat_498302.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/luis-gutierrez-8772_compliance_we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternat_498302.png) > “We need legal immigration as an alternative to illegal immigration and a way of getting the millions of unauthorized immigrants already here to get legal and get in compliance with our laws.” [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal pathways reduce undocumented populations by offering regulated entry and compliance with law. **In simple terms:** Legal immigration replaces illegal flows. Key Takeaway Create fair, enforceable immigration systems. Themes immigration law policy human rights economics Mood concerned hopeful Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - government legislation - community integration - economic planning Key Concepts border security citizenship pathways labor market humanitarian relief Questions to Reflect On - How can policy balance security with compassion? - What incentives encourage undocumented residents to regularize? A Different Perspective Legal routes may be politically contentious and slow to implement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compliance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliance/) [Illegal immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal-immigration/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Legal immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-immigration/) ## Related quotes > [“The facts tell a very different story: (1) First-generation Mexican immigrants actually commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans; (2) as rates of immigration have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-offit/the-facts-tell-a-very-different-story-1-first-generation-mexican/) [Paul A. Offit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-a-offit/) > [The factual reality is that the vast majority of immigrants - legal and illegal - contribute more to this country than they take out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/the-factual-reality-is-that-the-vast-majority-of-immigrants-legal-and/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [I love immigrants. Legal, illegal - they're not to be despised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/i-love-immigrants-legal-illegal-they-re-not-to-be-despised/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [Ending illegal immigration only strengthens legal immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/ending-illegal-immigration-only-strengthens-legal-immigration/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [On immigration policy, I believe we ought to call an immediate halt, stop illegal immigration and reduce legal immigration back to about 250,000 to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-immigration-policy-i-believe-we-ought-to-call-an-immediate-halt/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [There's got to be a point where we fix the system so that legal immigration is easier than illegal immigration and show respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/there-s-got-to-be-a-point-where-we-fix-the-system-so-that-legal/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [The effects of illegal immigration aren't that different from those of legal immigration —an illiterate Central American farmer with a green card is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-krikorian/the-effects-of-illegal-immigration-aren-t-that-different-from-those/) [Mark Krikorian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-krikorian/) > [There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-divided-allegiance-here-any-man-who-says-he-is-an/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There is no quick fix for illegal immigration. But only when we achieve better control of our borders and better respect for our immigration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/there-is-no-quick-fix-for-illegal-immigration-but-only-when-we/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [ We are trying to identify employers that might be \[hiring illegal aliens\] and to take effective action against them. We're trying to make sure… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/we-are-trying-to-identify-employers-that-might-be-hiring-illegal/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [Legal immigration is good for America, if it's controlled and structured via the legal process, of course. But the problem is the system we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/legal-immigration-is-good-for-america-if-it-s-controlled-and/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [We must say no to illegal immigration so we can continue to say yes to legal immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-must-say-no-to-illegal-immigration-so-we-can-continue-to-say-yes/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [ 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/) > [As president, I will fight illegal immigration in order to preserve an appropriate level of legal immigration. At the same time, I believe our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/as-president-i-will-fight-illegal-immigration-in-order-to-preserve-an/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I think we need a real plan, which is why I have offered a much more specific approach to securing the border, fixing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-think-we-need-a-real-plan-which-is-why-i-have-offered-a-much-more/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) ## More by Luis Gutierrez > [Uncertainty and fear and ignorance about immigrants, about people who are different, has a history as old as our Nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/uncertainty-and-fear-and-ignorance-about-immigrants-about-people-who/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [DACA is a lifeline for individuals who have grown up in the U.S. but who lack immigration papers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/daca-is-a-lifeline-for-individuals-who-have-grown-up-in-the-u-s-but/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [We must stand on principle and practicality, and we should be very clear that a policy aimed at driving out 10 or 11 million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-must-stand-on-principle-and-practicality-and-we-should-be-very/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [As a Democrat from Illinois, as a member of Congress who believes in and admires President Obama, it genuinely pains me to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/as-a-democrat-from-illinois-as-a-member-of-congress-who-believes-in/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [On Tuesday 26 July 2011, I was arrested in front of the White House along with a dozen other pro-immigrant advocates and clergy. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/on-tuesday-26-july-2011-i-was-arrested-in-front-of-the-white-house/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [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/) > [BP should be Banned Permanently because they are too failed to be big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/bp-should-be-banned-permanently-because-they-are-too-failed-to-be-big/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [We should be clear that we prefer a system that allows people to come to the U.S. with visas, not in the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-should-be-clear-that-we-prefer-a-system-that-allows-people-to-come/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [We watched the U.S. citizenship immigration services web site in March. They had six million, two hundred thousand hits, and two million people downloaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-watched-the-u-s-citizenship-immigration-services-web-site-in-march/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [I mean, the greatest laugh I always get is, if darkness, right, just overwhelms the Earth one day and Obama had the key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/i-mean-the-greatest-laugh-i-always-get-is-if-darkness-right-just/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [The American people are much more practical than Republican lawmakers on equal pay, on the minimum wage, on same-sex marriage, and on basic civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/the-american-people-are-much-more-practical-than-republican-lawmakers/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [The immigrant blame game is constant. Cynical politicians believe it drives poll numbers; cynical commentators believe it drives TV ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/the-immigrant-blame-game-is-constant-cynical-politicians-believe-it/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [I will argue until my last breath for a pathway to citizenship that is quick and efficient because I want to end this chapter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/i-will-argue-until-my-last-breath-for-a-pathway-to-citizenship-that/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [I have never pretended to be a legal scholar, but when scores of lawyers are lining up to agree with the Supreme Court that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/i-have-never-pretended-to-be-a-legal-scholar-but-when-scores-of/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [While jobs, education, and healthcare rank among the top issues for Latino voters, immigration is a threshold issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/while-jobs-education-and-healthcare-rank-among-the-top-issues-for/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) [Explore all 78 Luis Gutierrez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) ## More Compliance quotes > [The most influential people strive for genuine buy-in and commitment - they don't rely on compliance techniques that only secure short-term persuasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goulston/the-most-influential-people-strive-for-genuine-buy-in-and-commitment/) [Mark Goulston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goulston/) > [It is important that New York City is in compliance with international criminal law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zohran-mamdani/it-is-important-that-new-york-city-is-in-compliance-with/) [Zohran Mamdani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zohran-mamdani/) > [The public, investors and stakeholders now expect higher standards of tax compliance and more transparency from large businesses about the way they approach taxation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/the-public-investors-and-stakeholders-now-expect-higher-standards-of/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [An uprising would punish only the country, and that is out of the question. But there is yet another approach, the most effectiveform of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/an-uprising-would-punish-only-the-country-and-that-is-out-of-the/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Melania Trump posted on Twitter -I have at all times been in full compliance with the immigration laws of this country. It's the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melania-trump/melania-trump-posted-on-twitter-i-have-at-all-times-been-in-full/) [Melania Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melania-trump/) > [ The cost of taxpayer compliance with \[the tax code\] is over $80 billion per year, more than eight times the cost of the IRS budget ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-o-rossotti/the-cost-of-taxpayer-compliance-with-the-tax-code-is-over-80-billion/) Charles O. Rossotti > [Acting after being asked is compliance. Acting without being asked is kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kaufman/acting-after-being-asked-is-compliance-acting-without-being-asked-is/) [Ron Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kaufman/) > [We rely on our voter registration studies to warn states that they are failing to comply with the requirements of the National Voter Registration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/we-rely-on-our-voter-registration-studies-to-warn-states-that-they/) [Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/) > [“We need people who push boundaries rather than retreat inside them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/we-need-people-who-push-boundaries-rather-than-retreat-inside-them/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) > [We are looking for targets that have a tremendous strategic fit for the company. The colleges must have complementary education programs, have an excellent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larson/we-are-looking-for-targets-that-have-a-tremendous-strategic-fit-for/) John Larson > [If we speak calmly, in a businesslike fashion, let me draw your attention to the fact that Russia supplies arms to the legitimate government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/if-we-speak-calmly-in-a-businesslike-fashion-let-me-draw-your/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [As American taxpayers know too well, the tax code is incredibly complex and compliance is all to expensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ramstad/as-american-taxpayers-know-too-well-the-tax-code-is-incredibly/) [Jim Ramstad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ramstad/) > [The man who submits to violence is debased by his compliance; but when he submits to that right of authority which he acknowledges in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-man-who-submits-to-violence-is-debased-by-his-compliance-but-when/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“Company leaders should understand regulatory compliance because it is crucial for maintaining legal and ethical business practices. A comprehensive understanding of compliance ensures they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrith-vanlon-smith-jr/company-leaders-should-understand-regulatory-compliance-because-it-is/) [Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrith-vanlon-smith-jr/) > [Ensure compliance and be responsive to the feedback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mclellan/ensure-compliance-and-be-responsive-to-the-feedback/) [Anne McLellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mclellan/) [Browse all 176 Compliance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We need legal immigration as an alternative to illegal immigration and a way of getting the millions of unauthorized immigrants already here to get legal and get in compliance with our laws.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Luis Gutierrez" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternative-to-illegal-immigration/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compliance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternative-to-illegal-immigration/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/luis-gutierrez-8772_compliance_we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternat_498302.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/luis-gutierrez-8772_compliance_we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternat_498302.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/luis-gutierrez-8772_compliance_we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternat_498302.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We need legal immigration as an alternative to illegal immigration and a way of getting the millions of…” — Luis Gutierrez", "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": "Luis Gutierrez", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We need legal immigration as an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternative-to-illegal-immigration/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternative-to-illegal-immigration/#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 } } ] } ```