--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America has an obligation to secure its…" description: "\"America has an obligation to secure its borders, but it is wrong to pass laws that treat human beings as something less than human. If my father were a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_alive_america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its_1018725.jpg" --- # America has an obligation to secure its borders, but it is… ![“America has an obligation to secure its borders, but it is wrong to pass laws that treat human beings as something less than human. If my father were alive, he would be in the forefront of the struggle for a fair and humane reform of our immigration laws.” quote by Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_alive_america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its_1018725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_alive_america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its_1018725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_alive_america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its_1018725.jpg) > “America has an obligation to secure its borders, but it is wrong to pass laws that treat human beings as something less than human. If my father were alive, he would be in the forefront of the struggle for a fair and humane reform of our immigration laws.” [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing border security with humane treatment of migrants is essential; policies should protect borders without dehumanizing people. **In simple terms:** Secure borders while respecting human dignity. Key Takeaway Advocate compassionate immigration reform. Themes human rights immigration justice policy compassion Mood concerned hopeful Type political advocacy When to use this quote - legislative debates - border patrol training - community integration programs Key Concepts human dignity policy ethics national security Questions to Reflect On - How can laws protect borders without dehumanizing migrants? - What policies best balance security and compassion? A Different Perspective Balancing security and humanity is politically contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-law/) [Immigration laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-laws/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [We should strengthen our immigration laws to prevent the importation of foreign wages and working conditions. We should make it illegal for employers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/we-should-strengthen-our-immigration-laws-to-prevent-the-importation/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [What (the Arizona immigration law) is likely to mean effectively is that if in the course of a traffic stop, a cop asks you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-lowry/what-the-arizona-immigration-law-is-likely-to-mean-effectively-is/) [Rich Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-lowry/) > [The immigration laws of the United States should not be used to buy and sell political favors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/the-immigration-laws-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-used-to-buy/) [Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/) > [People have a pathway to citizenship right now- It's to abide by the immigration laws, and if they have a family relationship, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goodlatte/people-have-a-pathway-to-citizenship-right-now-it-s-to-abide-by-the/) [Bob Goodlatte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goodlatte/) > [Immigration law doesn't exist for the purpose of keeping criminals out. It exists to protect all aspects of American life, the work site, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/immigration-law-doesn-t-exist-for-the-purpose-of-keeping-criminals-2/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Immigration law's already settled. That's why we have people known as illegal immigrants, because the law is very clear. They're not being called illegal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/immigration-law-s-already-settled-that-s-why-we-have-people-known-as/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The fact that you have a policy of such consequence directly affecting millions of people and you have a legal question of great consequence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/the-fact-that-you-have-a-policy-of-such-consequence-directly/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [It is wrong, and ultimately self-defeating for a nation of immigrants to permit the kind of abuse of our immigration laws that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/it-is-wrong-and-ultimately-self-defeating-for-a-nation-of-immigrants/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [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/) > [Immigration law doesn't exist for the purpose of keeping criminals out. It exists to protect all aspects of American life. The work site, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/immigration-law-doesn-t-exist-for-the-purpose-of-keeping-criminals/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In other words, under Attorney General John Ashcroft, the FBI, the INS and the Department of Justice are so out of control that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/in-other-words-under-attorney-general-john-ashcroft-the-fbi-the-ins/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [It was right after Woodrow Wilson's first serious post-World War I repression, which deported thousands of people, effectively destroyed unions and independent press, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-was-right-after-woodrow-wilson-s-first-serious-post-world-war-i/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Our immigration law sucks, and we need to redo the whole thing, comprehensive immigration reform. And what that's gonna be is anybody who wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/our-immigration-law-sucks-and-we-need-to-redo-the-whole-thing/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [If America is a nation of laws as we proclaim, then our immigration laws are part of the package.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/if-america-is-a-nation-of-laws-as-we-proclaim-then-our-immigration/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) ## More by Martin Luther King III > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [And I think that, at some point, I am, as John Lewis and many others, are a bridge-builder. The goal is to bring America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/and-i-think-that-at-some-point-i-am-as-john-lewis-and-many-others-are/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [If I woke up every day attempting to be my father, I would fail miserably. I think he was anointed. He was chosen by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/if-i-woke-up-every-day-attempting-to-be-my-father-i-would-fail/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [I just think we have to create the climate so that people will come out on election day and vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/i-just-think-we-have-to-create-the-climate-so-that-people-will-come/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [I think we have got to do a better job explaining to people why their vote does count. I think people feel disconnected from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/i-think-we-have-got-to-do-a-better-job-explaining-to-people-why-their/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [There is more racial integration in American life and many more people of color serving as elected officials and corporate leaders than there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/there-is-more-racial-integration-in-american-life-and-many-more/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Our family has always drawn on the power from above to comfort us in times of despair and stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/our-family-has-always-drawn-on-the-power-from-above-to-comfort-us-in/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [I was told that Daddy was murdered by a white man. I could have adopted an attitude of hating whites. But then in 1974…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/i-was-told-that-daddy-was-murdered-by-a-white-man-i-could-have/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Many feel that in today's climate some of those in authority are exercising, in effect, a self-serving, 'ends justify the means' mindset as well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/many-feel-that-in-today-s-climate-some-of-those-in-authority-are/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [African Americans are not going to be fooled by any group supported by industrial polluters. They know climate change is real and that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/african-americans-are-not-going-to-be-fooled-by-any-group-supported/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [There's something wrong in a nation where six million black men are not allowed to vote because they were convicted of felonies. They've paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/there-s-something-wrong-in-a-nation-where-six-million-black-men-are/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Our challenge is to mobilize a new coalition of conscience to restore the Voting Rights Act, strengthen voting rights and broaden voter access in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/our-challenge-is-to-mobilize-a-new-coalition-of-conscience-to-restore/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [You know, when you've idolized something, you put it on a shelf, lift it up, and when King Day comes out, you pull it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/you-know-when-you-ve-idolized-something-you-put-it-on-a-shelf-lift-it/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [The March on Washington was a defining moment in the history of this country and a great example of our nation truly living up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/the-march-on-washington-was-a-defining-moment-in-the-history-of-this/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [On March 7, 1965, some 600 civil rights activists marched in Selma, Alabama, demanding an end to racial discrimination. The demonstration was led by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/on-march-7-1965-some-600-civil-rights-activists-marched-in-selma/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) [Explore all 103 Martin Luther King III quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "America has an obligation to secure its borders, but it is wrong to pass laws that treat human beings as something less than human. If my father were alive, he would be in the forefront of the struggle for a fair and humane reform of our immigration laws.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King III" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its-borders-but-it-is-wrong-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its-borders-but-it-is-wrong-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_alive_america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its_1018725.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_alive_america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its_1018725.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_alive_america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its_1018725.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America has an obligation to secure its borders, but it is wrong to pass laws that treat human beings as…” — Martin Luther King III", "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": "Martin Luther King III", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "America has an obligation to secure...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its-borders-but-it-is-wrong-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/america-has-an-obligation-to-secure-its-borders-but-it-is-wrong-to/#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 } } ] } ```