--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sixty percent of our immigrants are…" description: "\"Sixty percent of our immigrants are admitted merely because they have relatives here. Many of these people are not immediate relative, but are part of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/ronald-reagan-119_chains_sixty-percent-of-our-immigrants-are-admi_249394.jpg" --- # Sixty percent of our immigrants are admitted merely… ![“Sixty percent of our immigrants are admitted merely because they have relatives here. Many of these people are not immediate relative, but are part of extended families. The nepotistic U.S. policy lets in relatives then lets in the relatives' relatives, and so on, creating an endless and ever…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/ronald-reagan-119_chains_sixty-percent-of-our-immigrants-are-admi_249394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/ronald-reagan-119_chains_sixty-percent-of-our-immigrants-are-admi_249394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/ronald-reagan-119_chains_sixty-percent-of-our-immigrants-are-admi_249394.jpg) > “Sixty percent of our immigrants are admitted merely because they have relatives here. Many of these people are not immediate relative, but are part of extended families. The nepotistic U.S. policy lets in relatives then lets in the relatives' relatives, and so on, creating an endless and ever growing chain of new immigrants.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques U.S. immigration policy for favoring family connections, creating expanding chains of newcomers. **In simple terms:** Immigration favors relatives, leading to endless chains. Key Takeaway Consider policy reforms for balance. Themes policy immigration family ties Mood critical analytical Type political policy When to use this quote - policy debate - family reunification - labor market - community integration Key Concepts nepotism chain migration Questions to Reflect On - Is family priority fair? - How to balance family and merit? A Different Perspective Family-based immigration may overlook merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Extended family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extended-family/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [But anyway, it's obvious through human experience that extended families and tribes are terribly important. We can do without an extended family as human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/but-anyway-it-s-obvious-through-human-experience-that-extended/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Friends are the twenty-first-century version of extended families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-heimel/friends-are-the-twenty-first-century-version-of-extended-families/) [Cynthia Heimel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-heimel/) > [It's peaceful to think about the family as a group. I totally believe in extended families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/it-s-peaceful-to-think-about-the-family-as-a-group-i-totally-believe/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [My Open Hearts Family celebrates not only the traditional family but also extended families that we create from the people we open our hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/my-open-hearts-family-celebrates-not-only-the-traditional-family-but/) [Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/) > [One thing I found out was that we need extended families. We need gangs. And, of course, if they're tribes and clans and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/one-thing-i-found-out-was-that-we-need-extended-families-we-need/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Recent surveys of Church members have shown a serious erosion in the number of families who have a year's supply of life's necessities. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/recent-surveys-of-church-members-have-shown-a-serious-erosion-in-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [In our prehistoric past, we would have lived in extended families, surrounded by kin whose interests we might have wanted to promote because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/in-our-prehistoric-past-we-would-have-lived-in-extended-families/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Extended families have never been the norm in America; the highest figure for extended-family households ever recorded in Americanhistory is 20 percent. Contrary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/extended-families-have-never-been-the-norm-in-america-the-highest/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [Now, most of the new immigrants coming to this country are from Asia as opposed to Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-chang/now-most-of-the-new-immigrants-coming-to-this-country-are-from-asia/) [Iris Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-chang/) > [One thing that's really interesting is not only the magnitude of the recent immigration into this country, but also its distribution and its investment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-prewitt/one-thing-that-s-really-interesting-is-not-only-the-magnitude-of-the/) Kenneth Prewitt > [I don't want our country to be like other countries in Europe in having a challenge to integrate their new immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxime-bernier/i-don-t-want-our-country-to-be-like-other-countries-in-europe-in/) [Maxime Bernier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxime-bernier/) > [“In the 18th century, cheap, unregulated spirits flooded the market, resulting in more individuals turning to alcoholism. The wave of new immigrants—groups like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/in-the-18th-century-cheap-unregulated-spirits-flooded-the-market/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [Our new immigrants must be part of our one America. After all, they're revitalizing our cities, they're energizing our culture, they're building up our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/our-new-immigrants-must-be-part-of-our-one-america-after-all-they-re/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Once we lose our border protection, the road to citizenship, voting and welfare benefits for a flood of new immigrants will be all but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kirk/once-we-lose-our-border-protection-the-road-to-citizenship-voting-and/) [Charlie Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kirk/) > [We must honor our country's tradition of openness and continue to welcome new immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-serrano/we-must-honor-our-country-s-tradition-of-openness-and-continue-to/) [Jose Serrano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-serrano/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [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/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Chains quotes > [Unchecked, the new tolerance will sooner or later put many people in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/unchecked-the-new-tolerance-will-sooner-or-later-put-many-people-in/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Chains of conformity click in tiresomely monotonous unison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-sweet/the-chains-of-conformity-click-in-tiresomely-monotonous-unison/) [Leonard Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-sweet/) > [The dark ages still reign over all humanity, and the depth and persistence of this domination are only now becoming clear. This Dark Ages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/the-dark-ages-still-reign-over-all-humanity-and-the-depth-and/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [We don't have a farm-to-table food safety system. I keep saying this. It came as a big surprise to the FDA that tomatoes were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-nestle/we-don-t-have-a-farm-to-table-food-safety-system-i-keep-saying-this/) [Marion Nestle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-nestle/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) Christy Nockels > [How can I set free anyone who doesn't have the guts to stand up alone and declare his own freedom? I think it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/how-can-i-set-free-anyone-who-doesn-t-have-the-guts-to-stand-up-alone/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [I'm bigger than you! I'm higher on the food chain - get in my belly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/i-m-bigger-than-you-i-m-higher-on-the-food-chain-get-in-my-belly/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The chains will fall off freely, no more worries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dl-watson/the-chains-will-fall-off-freely-no-more-worries/) DL WATSON > [I am ever mindful of the legacy of my grandfather, the founder of this Kingdom, who had said to me that he perceived his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-hussein-i/i-am-ever-mindful-of-the-legacy-of-my-grandfather-the-founder-of-this/) [King Hussein I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-hussein-i/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [To one who is accustomed to thinking a lot, every new thought that he hears or reads about immediately appears as a link in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/to-one-who-is-accustomed-to-thinking-a-lot-every-new-thought-that-he/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [To sigh, yet feel no pain; To weep, yet scarce know why; To sport an hour with Beauty's chain, Then throw it idly by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/to-sigh-yet-feel-no-pain-to-weep-yet-scarce-know-why-to-sport-an-hour/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) [Browse all 1,639 Chains quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sixty percent of our immigrants are admitted merely because they have relatives here. Many of these people are not immediate relative, but are part of extended families. 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