--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don't really have the ability to…" description: "\"We don't really have the ability to enforce the law with respect to illegal work in this country in a way that's truly effective...We haven't been able..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a01/michael-chertoff-17447_ability_we-don-t-really-have-the-ability-to-enfo_2694135.jpg" --- # We don't really have the ability to enforce the law with… ![“We don't really have the ability to enforce the law with respect to illegal work in this country in a way that's truly effective...We haven't been able to require every employer to enter a system in which they check the work status of their employees and determine whether they're legal, and…” quote by Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a01/michael-chertoff-17447_ability_we-don-t-really-have-the-ability-to-enfo_2694135.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a01/michael-chertoff-17447_ability_we-don-t-really-have-the-ability-to-enfo_2694135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a01/michael-chertoff-17447_ability_we-don-t-really-have-the-ability-to-enfo_2694135.jpg) > “We don't really have the ability to enforce the law with respect to illegal work in this country in a way that's truly effective...We haven't been able to require every employer to enter a system in which they check the work status of their employees and determine whether they're legal, and without that, we don't really have the ability to enforce the law with respect to illegal work in this country in a way that's truly effective. And that would be the single greatest additional weapon we could use if we're serious about tackling this problem.” [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective immigration enforcement needs universal employer verification, but implementation challenges hinder enforcement. **In simple terms:** Current system can’t enforce illegal work lawfully. Key Takeaway Improve employer verification systems. Themes immigration law enforcement policy Mood concerned analytical Type policy advice When to use this quote - business operations - government regulation - immigration reform Key Concepts verification databases legal compliance Questions to Reflect On - What incentives could encourage compliance? - How to balance enforcement with labor market needs? A Different Perspective Political resistance may stall reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Employers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employers/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [Law has the power to compel: indeed, the ability to enforce is a condition of the ability to command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/law-has-the-power-to-compel-indeed-the-ability-to-enforce-is-a/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [The size of your organization is directly related to your ability to enforce the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-size-of-your-organization-is-directly-related-to-your-ability-to/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [I'm sometimes asked why it is that for 30 years we seem to have trouble in the United States enforcing the rules against illegal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/i-m-sometimes-asked-why-it-is-that-for-30-years-we-seem-to-have/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [I work for my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-princess-of-hanover/i-work-for-my-country/) [Caroline, Princess of Hanover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-princess-of-hanover/) > [It's pleasanter to work in the country, where you can wander out among the trees. But I don't get as much work done. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/it-s-pleasanter-to-work-in-the-country-where-you-can-wander-out-among/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I would like to work in any country in an interesting project. The country is not so important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-lemarquis/i-would-like-to-work-in-any-country-in-an-interesting-project-the/) Tomas Lemarquis > [I would like to make work for my country, art which is innately Kenyan by being made in Kenya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-would-like-to-make-work-for-my-country-art-which-is-innately-kenyan/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I'm deeply grateful to live and work in this country and to the United States for opening its arms to me the way it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/i-m-deeply-grateful-to-live-and-work-in-this-country-and-to-the/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) > [I definitely want to keep working in Ireland, and without being too worthy about it, if it's possible to bring work into the country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-o-dowd/i-definitely-want-to-keep-working-in-ireland-and-without-being-too/) [Chris O'Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-o-dowd/) > [There is a vast world of work out there in this country, where at least 111 million people are employed in this country alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/there-is-a-vast-world-of-work-out-there-in-this-country-where-at-2/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [I am proud of my work for my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/i-am-proud-of-my-work-for-my-country/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [I strongly feel that James Bond can't work in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-strongly-feel-that-james-bond-can-t-work-in-our-country/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [I only travel to good material, a good director and a good company. I won't work in another country for a year any longer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-dale/i-only-travel-to-good-material-a-good-director-and-a-good-company-i/) [Jim Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-dale/) > [With central contracts, you are very well looked after by the board. You do not have to be bothered about anything else. Just put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mithali-raj/with-central-contracts-you-are-very-well-looked-after-by-the-board/) [Mithali Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mithali-raj/) > [“There is a vast world of work out there in this country, where at least 111 million people are employed in this country alone--many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/there-is-a-vast-world-of-work-out-there-in-this-country-where-at/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) ## More by Michael Chertoff > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [So that's why I said, if you look at the average, you would see the money New York got this year was in line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/so-that-s-why-i-said-if-you-look-at-the-average-you-would-see-the/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [The second thing we did was said, OK, we've now identified the risk, but what do you want to do with the money? Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/the-second-thing-we-did-was-said-ok-we-ve-now-identified-the-risk-but/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [First, we did rank everybody by risk, and New York comes out number one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/first-we-did-rank-everybody-by-risk-and-new-york-comes-out-number-one/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [Well, I mean, Congress did originally set the formula for the state grants, and they guaranteed every state a minimum formula. So that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/well-i-mean-congress-did-originally-set-the-formula-for-the-state/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [I'm sometimes asked why it is that for 30 years we seem to have trouble in the United States enforcing the rules against illegal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/i-m-sometimes-asked-why-it-is-that-for-30-years-we-seem-to-have/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [The fact that we have not had a terrorist attack in this country in the last six years is not a cause for complacency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/the-fact-that-we-have-not-had-a-terrorist-attack-in-this-country-in/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [We always monitor the flow of information, intelligence, threat streams to see whether we have any indication there's some imminent. We work hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/we-always-monitor-the-flow-of-information-intelligence-threat-streams/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [Al Qaeda is very media-savvy and very focused on what goes on in the global media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/al-qaeda-is-very-media-savvy-and-very-focused-on-what-goes-on-in-the/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [But I think the bottom line right now is to take the constructive criticism and use that to build toward, as I say, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/but-i-think-the-bottom-line-right-now-is-to-take-the-constructive/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [The larger point is this: We've invested over half a billion dollars in New York since this department was stood up. We've given New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/the-larger-point-is-this-we-ve-invested-over-half-a-billion-dollars/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [And here where the fact that we've given over half a billion dollars to New York really plays a role, because New York has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/and-here-where-the-fact-that-we-ve-given-over-half-a-billion-dollars/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [Even the kinds of ingredients you can find in your own kitchen can be used to make bombs. So the problem is with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/even-the-kinds-of-ingredients-you-can-find-in-your-own-kitchen-can-be/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [And one of the things I want to say, Wolf, is we're 100 days from hurricane season, and we've got to start focusing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/and-one-of-the-things-i-want-to-say-wolf-is-we-re-100-days-from/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [I have not heard a report of thousands of people in the convention center who don't have food and water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/i-have-not-heard-a-report-of-thousands-of-people-in-the-convention/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) [Explore all 37 Michael Chertoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We don't really have the ability to enforce the law with respect to illegal work in this country in a way that's truly effective...We haven't been able to require every employer to enter a system in which they check the work status of their employees and determine whether they're legal, and without that, we don't really have the ability to enforce the law with respect to illegal work in this country in a way that's truly effective. 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