--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Legal immigration is good for America, if…" description: "\"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 have in pla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/marco-rubio-355_america_legal-immigration-is-good-for-america-if_337561.jpg" --- # Legal immigration is good for America, if it's controlled… ![“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 have in place right now is broken. For example, it is completely family based which means that it's based not on what you can do or what talent you have or…” quote by Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/marco-rubio-355_america_legal-immigration-is-good-for-america-if_337561.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/marco-rubio-355_america_legal-immigration-is-good-for-america-if_337561.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed9/marco-rubio-355_america_legal-immigration-is-good-for-america-if_337561.jpg) > “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 have in place right now is broken. For example, it is completely family based which means that it's based not on what you can do or what talent you have or what merit you bring or what job you could fill, but rather on whether you know someone who already lives here.” [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal immigration should prioritize skills and merit over family connections, but current laws favor family ties, limiting economic benefits. **In simple terms:** Immigration should favor talent, not just family ties. Key Takeaway Reform immigration to reward skill and merit. Themes immigration policy economics family merit Mood concerned optimistic critical Type policy analytical prescriptive When to use this quote - job market - business hiring - educational institutions - community planning Key Concepts skill-based selection economic contribution social integration Questions to Reflect On - How could a merit system be implemented fairly? - What safeguards protect families while promoting talent? A Different Perspective Family-based system may overlook qualified candidates and reduce diversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Controlled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controlled/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Family Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-based-2421361/) [Good America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-america-375448/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Illegal immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal-immigration/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-good-839141/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Legal immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-immigration/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [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 a child of immigrants. That is the history of this country. Immigration is good and important for our country. Legal immigration needs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrasso/i-m-a-child-of-immigrants-that-is-the-history-of-this-country/) [John Barrasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrasso/) > [Importantly, in several years when we have accomplished all of our enforcement and deportation goals and truly ended illegal immigration for good, including the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/importantly-in-several-years-when-we-have-accomplished-all-of-our/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I'm a big believer in family-based immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-m-a-big-believer-in-family-based-immigration/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [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/) > [We need legal immigration as an alternative to illegal immigration and a way of getting the millions of unauthorized immigrants already here to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternative-to-illegal-immigration/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [ 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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Marco Rubio > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [The president we have today is a typical Washington politician that's prone to hyperbole and decisiveness and false outrage. And I think it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-president-we-have-today-is-a-typical-washington-politician-that-s/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nominee-because-we-are-not-going/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [My first job paid well for a young attorney. I was making over $50,000, which was more than either of my parents had ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/my-first-job-paid-well-for-a-young-attorney-i-was-making-over-50-000/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [My dad was a bartender. My mom was a cashier, a maid and a stock clerk at K-Mart. They never made it big. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/my-dad-was-a-bartender-my-mom-was-a-cashier-a-maid-and-a-stock-clerk/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Now, look, it's true, Americans do want leaders that will come to Washington, D.C. and work together to get things done, but that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/now-look-it-s-true-americans-do-want-leaders-that-will-come-to/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I have been an underdog my whole life, both in life and in politics. We're going to do well. We're going to pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-have-been-an-underdog-my-whole-life-both-in-life-and-in-politics-we/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Certainly being governor is an important job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/certainly-being-governor-is-an-important-job/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [The conservative movement is about government playing its important yet limited role, and about not falling into the trap of believing that every problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-conservative-movement-is-about-government-playing-its-important/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [The greatest thing that we can do for the world is be America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-greatest-thing-that-we-can-do-for-the-world-is-be-america/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Our people want jobs. They don't want a safety net as a way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/our-people-want-jobs-they-don-t-want-a-safety-net-as-a-way-of-life/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I believe that every single human being is entitled to the protection of our laws, whether they can vote or not. Whether they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-believe-that-every-single-human-being-is-entitled-to-the-protection/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I don't measure success by how many buildings have my name on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-don-t-measure-success-by-how-many-buildings-have-my-name-on-it/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Any time you can degrade or take away the top leadership of an organization, it's a positive step forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/any-time-you-can-degrade-or-take-away-the-top-leadership-of-an/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) [Explore all 649 Marco Rubio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 have in place right now is broken. 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