--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A path to citizenship for those who are…" description: "\"A path to citizenship for those who are here illegally in my view is unfair to those waiting sometimes a decades in line to come here.\" — Ted Cruz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/ted-cruz-487_citizenship_a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are_1420309.png" --- # A path to citizenship for those who are here illegally in… ![“A path to citizenship for those who are here illegally in my view is unfair to those waiting sometimes a decades in line to come here.” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/ted-cruz-487_citizenship_a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are_1420309.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/ted-cruz-487_citizenship_a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are_1420309.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/ted-cruz-487_citizenship_a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are_1420309.png) > “A path to citizenship for those who are here illegally in my view is unfair to those waiting sometimes a decades in line to come here.” [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## 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 those who follow the official process over undocumented entrants. **In simple terms:** Legal paths should be favored over illegal ones. Key Takeaway Support fair, rule‑based immigration. Themes immigration policy fairness law Mood critical thoughtful Type political controversial When to use this quote - policy debate - community outreach - legal counseling Key Concepts justice national security human rights Questions to Reflect On - Is the waiting period truly fair? - How can policy address both fairness and humanitarian concerns? A Different Perspective Balancing compassion with rule of law is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) ## Related quotes > [I do not support citizenship for those already here illegally. Those who cut the line and broke our laws as their first act entering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-do-not-support-citizenship-for-those-already-here-illegally-those/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [“After all, I had been waiting decades for it to come. I wanted to escape this world, but only it could help me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-fiorre/after-all-i-had-been-waiting-decades-for-it-to-come-i-wanted-to/) [Grace Fiorre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-fiorre/) > [Our immigration system is a broken system that needs to be fixed. We need reform that provides hardworking people of good character with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-baca/our-immigration-system-is-a-broken-system-that-needs-to-be-fixed-we/) [Joe Baca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-baca/) > [Jeb Bush is getting his presidential campaign in gear. Last week he said he supports a path to citizenship for immigrants. He said, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/jeb-bush-is-getting-his-presidential-campaign-in-gear-last-week-he/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Business owners have made a strong case to me that they need guest workers. But none has suggested that these workers should be placed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shadegg/business-owners-have-made-a-strong-case-to-me-that-they-need-guest/) [John Shadegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shadegg/) > [I believe we should build a wall - it might or might not slow immigration but it's worth a try and certainly that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-samuelson/i-believe-we-should-build-a-wall-it-might-or-might-not-slow/) [Robert J. Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-samuelson/) > [The U.S. immigration system is the most generous in the world, providing each year more green cards for legal permanent residence with a clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/the-u-s-immigration-system-is-the-most-generous-in-the-world/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [These are people who wanted to provide for their family and wanted a better life. We've got to have a secure border. But we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/these-are-people-who-wanted-to-provide-for-their-family-and-wanted-a/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [I'm for the DREAM Act. It makes so much sense. Following the implementation of the DREAM Act, we'll have a case study we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beto-o-rourke/i-m-for-the-dream-act-it-makes-so-much-sense-following-the/) [Beto O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beto-o-rourke/) > [I want immigration reform to come into fruition, and I want it to be comprehensive, and I want it to have a path to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-want-immigration-reform-to-come-into-fruition-and-i-want-it-to-be/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I think we should be pushing for amnesty and a path to citizenship for every undocumented person residing in the United States who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-think-we-should-be-pushing-for-amnesty-and-a-path-to-citizenship/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [We will have a mechanism for dealing with people in this country that - you heard the word humanely again. It is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/we-will-have-a-mechanism-for-dealing-with-people-in-this-country-that/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [From a policy point of view, I don't think it's the right approach. I don't like the idea of having millions of people here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/from-a-policy-point-of-view-i-don-t-think-it-s-the-right-approach-i/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [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/) > [With these 11 million people here illegally, let's have them registered, know who they are, those that are her paying taxes and not taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/with-these-11-million-people-here-illegally-let-s-have-them/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## More by Ted Cruz > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Donald Trump threatened to file a defamation suit against me for running a TV ad that consisted only entirely of his own words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-threatened-to-file-a-defamation-suit-against-me-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The immigrant experience of all of us is what makes us Americans, because we value in our DNA liberty and opportunity above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-immigrant-experience-of-all-of-us-is-what-makes-us-americans/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It is my hope that all of the Republicans who recognize that nominating a candidate who agrees with Hillary Clinton on a host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/it-is-my-hope-that-all-of-the-republicans-who-recognize-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Senate Majority Leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, 'If you defy Congress, if you defy the Constitution, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-senate-majority-leader-has-the-unilateral-ability-to-stand-up-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You can't get to a balanced budget and begin to pay down debt and thus create jobs in this country if you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-can-t-get-to-a-balanced-budget-and-begin-to-pay-down-debt-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [That's what actually caused me to run for office is, you know, my family story, the experience of growing up in a family where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/that-s-what-actually-caused-me-to-run-for-office-is-you-know-my/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/when-you-subpoena-one-pastor-you-subpoena-every-pastor/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/imagine-a-legal-immigration-system-that-welcomes-and-celebrates-those/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The court follows elite opinion, not public opinion. And Democratic leaders in Congress and Republican leaders in Congress follow elite opinion as well. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-court-follows-elite-opinion-not-public-opinion-and-democratic/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) [Explore all 523 Ted Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More Citizenship quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [There can be a debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act, but why should we shelter someone who has come to India illegally from outside?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-thackeray/there-can-be-a-debate-on-the-citizenship-amendment-act-but-why-should/) [Raj Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-thackeray/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before-you-on-this-occasion-is-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“Encouraging Robert E. Lee to take a job as college president, "You might be presenting to the world in such a position an example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nelson-pendleton/encouraging-robert-e-lee-to-take-a-job-as-college-president-you-might/) William Nelson Pendleton > [“What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ickes/what-constitutes-an-american-not-color-nor-race-nor-religion-not-the/) Harold Ickes > [In an age of interdependence, global citizenship - based on trust and sense of shared responsibility - is a crucial pillar of progress. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/in-an-age-of-interdependence-global-citizenship-based-on-trust-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Strengthening our identity is one way of reinforcing people's confidence and sense of citizenship and well-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/strengthening-our-identity-is-one-way-of-reinforcing-people-s/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Browse all 793 Citizenship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A path to citizenship for those who are here illegally in my view is unfair to those waiting sometimes a decades in line to come here.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted Cruz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are-here-illegally-in-my-view-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizenship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are-here-illegally-in-my-view-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/ted-cruz-487_citizenship_a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are_1420309.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/ted-cruz-487_citizenship_a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are_1420309.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/ted-cruz-487_citizenship_a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are_1420309.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A path to citizenship for those who are here illegally in my view is unfair to those waiting sometimes a…” — Ted Cruz", "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": "Ted Cruz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A path to citizenship for those...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are-here-illegally-in-my-view-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/a-path-to-citizenship-for-those-who-are-here-illegally-in-my-view-is/#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 } } ] } ```