--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not for amnesty. People must play by…" description: "\"I'm not for amnesty. People must play by the rules. And border enforcement must come first.\" — Steve Scalise" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/steve-scalise-4534_amnesty_i-m-not-for-amnesty-people-must-play-by_2734125.jpg" --- # I'm not for amnesty. People must play by the rules. And… ![“I'm not for amnesty. People must play by the rules. And border enforcement must come first.” quote by Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/steve-scalise-4534_amnesty_i-m-not-for-amnesty-people-must-play-by_2734125.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/steve-scalise-4534_amnesty_i-m-not-for-amnesty-people-must-play-by_2734125.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/steve-scalise-4534_amnesty_i-m-not-for-amnesty-people-must-play-by_2734125.jpg) > “I'm not for amnesty. People must play by the rules. And border enforcement must come first.” [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Opposes amnesty, insisting on rule adherence and prioritizing border enforcement. **In simple terms:** No amnesty; enforce rules first. Key Takeaway Support strict immigration policies. Themes law immigration policy Mood assertive controversial Type political opinion When to use this quote - border debates - legislative discussions Key Concepts national security political ideology Questions to Reflect On - What are the impacts of strict enforcement? - How balance security and compassion? A Different Perspective May ignore humanitarian concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amnesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amnesty/) [Amnesty People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amnesty-people-2977770/) [Border](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border/) [Border Enforcement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/border-enforcement-2116765/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Enforcement Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enforcement-come-2977772/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [Rules Border](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-border-2977771/) ## Related quotes > [Granting amnesty to people who broke the law penalizes the millions of people who are waiting to come to America legally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-gramm/granting-amnesty-to-people-who-broke-the-law-penalizes-the-millions/) [Phil Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-gramm/) > [Border enforcement coupled with employer sanctions and threatening employers who hire immigration law violators is insufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/border-enforcement-coupled-with-employer-sanctions-and-threatening/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [I have always believed in enforcing the border, and doing that before you do amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-murray/i-have-always-believed-in-enforcing-the-border-and-doing-that-before/) [Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/) > [My mom told me to stay away from gangs. But if you're asking me about immigration reform, it must accomplish two objectives: Border security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-salmon/my-mom-told-me-to-stay-away-from-gangs-but-if-you-re-asking-me-about/) [Matt Salmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-salmon/) > [Amnesty is a disaster, we need strong borders. We have no country if we have no border. In New Hampshire, the biggest complaint is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/amnesty-is-a-disaster-we-need-strong-borders-we-have-no-country-if-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [Mexico secures their border. Why shouldn't we be able to secure ours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/mexico-secures-their-border-why-shouldn-t-we-be-able-to-secure-ours/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [We ought to make sure that people coming here ought to be vetted and that we secure this federal border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/we-ought-to-make-sure-that-people-coming-here-ought-to-be-vetted-and/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [ I take the Constitution very seriously. The biggest problems that we're facing right now have to do with \[the president\] trying to bring more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-take-the-constitution-very-seriously-the-biggest-problems-that-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [...we will not grant amnesty to illegal aliens in this Congress or, hopefully ever again. We did that once. Everybody said it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-gramm/we-will-not-grant-amnesty-to-illegal-aliens-in-this-congress-or/) [Phil Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-gramm/) > [Why don't Republicans spend all their airtime attacking the media for lying about what Obama's amnesty does and what the Democrats are doing? It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/why-don-t-republicans-spend-all-their-airtime-attacking-the-media-for/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [3 "amnesty" didn't mean rewarding illegal behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/3-amnesty-didn-t-mean-rewarding-illegal-behavior/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Hillary Clinton has pledged to keep both of these illegal amnesty programs, including the 2014 amnesty which has been blocked by the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-has-pledged-to-keep-both-of-these-illegal-amnesty/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [How arrogant - how very far from humility - would be the self-satisfied, smug assurance that God, a tidy-up-after-us God will come and clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/how-arrogant-how-very-far-from-humility-would-be-the-self-satisfied/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [I worked 30 years to try to restore respect for the rule of law because of Ronald Reagan's amnesty in 1986. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-king/i-worked-30-years-to-try-to-restore-respect-for-the-rule-of-law/) [Steve King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-king/) ## More by Steve Scalise > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [We are not giving up on repealing and replacing Obamacare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/we-are-not-giving-up-on-repealing-and-replacing-obamacare/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [There are a lot of people in the Rust Belt who felt like, 'Nobody's concerned about me, and my shot at the American dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/there-are-a-lot-of-people-in-the-rust-belt-who-felt-like-nobody-s/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [Many people who have insurance can't even use it because they have $10,000 or higher deductibles. This is something families are facing all across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/many-people-who-have-insurance-can-t-even-use-it-because-they-have-10/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [We shouldn't be bailing out insurance companies under ObamaCare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/we-shouldn-t-be-bailing-out-insurance-companies-under-obamacare/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [Look at what happened in the 1990s: when they balanced the federal budget, it was through growth in the economy and controlling spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/look-at-what-happened-in-the-1990s-when-they-balanced-the-federal/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [There's a general understanding amongst, I think, most people in this country that whether or not you have a preexisting condition, it's not your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/there-s-a-general-understanding-amongst-i-think-most-people-in-this/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [While we always strive to reach 218 with Republican votes, sometimes that is not possible with divided government, and the story of a bill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/while-we-always-strive-to-reach-218-with-republican-votes-sometimes/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [If you're making enemies along the way, you're going to limit the ability for yourself to be successful in advancing your causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/if-you-re-making-enemies-along-the-way-you-re-going-to-limit-the/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [There are going to be times when we disagree with our leadership, but ultimately, we've got to work hard to pull our leadership to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/there-are-going-to-be-times-when-we-disagree-with-our-leadership-but/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [There's no excuse for breaking the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/there-s-no-excuse-for-breaking-the-law/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [Especially in the whip operation, you're in constant contact with the members and their chiefs of staff, so having a chief who's approachable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/especially-in-the-whip-operation-you-re-in-constant-contact-with-the/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [We want to say nobody should lose their health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/we-want-to-say-nobody-should-lose-their-health-care/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [Mexico secures their border. Why shouldn't we be able to secure ours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/mexico-secures-their-border-why-shouldn-t-we-be-able-to-secure-ours/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [We can pass conservative policy that unites us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/we-can-pass-conservative-policy-that-unites-us/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) [Explore all 109 Steve Scalise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) ## More Amnesty quotes > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [How arrogant - how very far from humility - would be the self-satisfied, smug assurance that God, a tidy-up-after-us God will come and clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/how-arrogant-how-very-far-from-humility-would-be-the-self-satisfied/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Hillary Clinton has pledged to keep both of these illegal amnesty programs, including the 2014 amnesty which has been blocked by the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-has-pledged-to-keep-both-of-these-illegal-amnesty/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [3 "amnesty" didn't mean rewarding illegal behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/3-amnesty-didn-t-mean-rewarding-illegal-behavior/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Why don't Republicans spend all their airtime attacking the media for lying about what Obama's amnesty does and what the Democrats are doing? It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/why-don-t-republicans-spend-all-their-airtime-attacking-the-media-for/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [...we will not grant amnesty to illegal aliens in this Congress or, hopefully ever again. We did that once. Everybody said it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-gramm/we-will-not-grant-amnesty-to-illegal-aliens-in-this-congress-or/) [Phil Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-gramm/) > [ I take the Constitution very seriously. The biggest problems that we're facing right now have to do with \[the president\] trying to bring more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-take-the-constitution-very-seriously-the-biggest-problems-that-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I worked 30 years to try to restore respect for the rule of law because of Ronald Reagan's amnesty in 1986. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-king/i-worked-30-years-to-try-to-restore-respect-for-the-rule-of-law/) [Steve King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-king/) > [You are going to hear many things from Mr. Trump today in his speech on immigration. One, no amnesty. He is absolutely going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/you-are-going-to-hear-many-things-from-mr-trump-today-in-his-speech/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [I supported this bill. I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-supported-this-bill-i-believe-in-the-idea-of-amnesty-for-those-who/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Amnesty is a disaster, we need strong borders. We have no country if we have no border. In New Hampshire, the biggest complaint is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/amnesty-is-a-disaster-we-need-strong-borders-we-have-no-country-if-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [no study has brought out any solid evidence that the death penalty deters crime. In fact, Amnesty reports that 'the murder rate in states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette-bosco/no-study-has-brought-out-any-solid-evidence-that-the-death-penalty/) [Antoinette Bosco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette-bosco/) > [We try it practically every time it comes up, be it amnesty, be it any other issue they want. We try and it gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-try-it-practically-every-time-it-comes-up-be-it-amnesty-be-it-any/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ This bill \[Immigration Reform and Control act of 1986\] is a gamble, a riverboat gamble. There is no guarantee that employer sanctions will work… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/this-bill-immigration-reform-and-control-act-of-1986-is-a-gamble-a/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [ 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/) [Browse all 195 Amnesty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amnesty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not for amnesty. People must play by the rules. 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