--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came here as an immigrant. We were…" description: "\"I came here as an immigrant. We were poor. We went to flea markets to sell gifts to make ends meet. Just the mere fact that I can be running for Congre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/ted-lieu-4499_america_i-came-here-as-an-immigrant-we-were-poor_732290.jpg" --- # I came here as an immigrant. We were poor. We went to flea… ![“I came here as an immigrant. We were poor. We went to flea markets to sell gifts to make ends meet. Just the mere fact that I can be running for Congress is something that can only happen in a place like America. It's such a wonderful country.” quote by Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/ted-lieu-4499_america_i-came-here-as-an-immigrant-we-were-poor_732290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/ted-lieu-4499_america_i-came-here-as-an-immigrant-we-were-poor_732290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/ted-lieu-4499_america_i-came-here-as-an-immigrant-we-were-poor_732290.jpg) > “I came here as an immigrant. We were poor. We went to flea markets to sell gifts to make ends meet. Just the mere fact that I can be running for Congress is something that can only happen in a place like America. It's such a wonderful country.” [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker highlights personal immigrant struggle and economic hardship, contrasting it with the opportunity to pursue high political office, illustrating America’s promise of upward mobility. **In simple terms:** Immigrant hardship versus American opportunity. Key Takeaway Recognize and support pathways for newcomers. Themes immigration opportunity politics American Dream social mobility Mood proud optimistic reflective Type inspirational political personal. When to use this quote - campaign speeches - community meetings - policy discussions Key Concepts American Dream social mobility political participation Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure equal political access for all immigrants? - What policies can reduce economic hardship for newcomers? A Different Perspective Success stories may overlook systemic barriers faced by many immigrants. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Immigrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) ## Related quotes > [“It was the exaggerated gratitude that came with immigrant insecurity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/it-was-the-exaggerated-gratitude-that-came-with-immigrant-insecurity/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [I came to the US as an immigrant and I recall vividly those first few years in California, the brief time we spent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-came-to-the-us-as-an-immigrant-and-i-recall-vividly-those-first-few/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [ \[My father\] came over as an immigrant and didn't know any English. He went to work at a sweat shop in Baltimore. He told… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/my-father-came-over-as-an-immigrant-and-didn-t-know-any-english-he/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [As you know, I'm an immigrant. I came over here as an immigrant, and what gave me the opportunities, what made me to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/as-you-know-i-m-an-immigrant-i-came-over-here-as-an-immigrant-and/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Immigration, a lexicon. You're a 'migrant' when you're very poor; 'immigrant' when you're not so poor; and 'expat' when you're rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-lalami/immigration-a-lexicon-you-re-a-migrant-when-you-re-very-poor/) [Laila Lalami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-lalami/) > [“Obinze said it was the exaggerated gratitude that came with immigrant insecurity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/obinze-said-it-was-the-exaggerated-gratitude-that-came-with-immigrant/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [That makes a difference when you have all these Asian faces running then getting elected. You have some 30 people, many of them Democrats,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/that-makes-a-difference-when-you-have-all-these-asian-faces-running/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [You spend a couple million dollars running for Congress, people get tired of seeing your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-gohmert/you-spend-a-couple-million-dollars-running-for-congress-people-get/) [Louie Gohmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-gohmert/) > [One of the rules of running for Congress is no matter where you go, you speak like you're speaking to the whole district.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ossoff/one-of-the-rules-of-running-for-congress-is-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Jon Ossoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ossoff/) > [My son Emilio is running for Congress to continue the fight for social justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/my-son-emilio-is-running-for-congress-to-continue-the-fight-for/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) > [Veterans tend to want to be ultra-prepared. They want to know everything they possibly can before running for Congress. That's great... but don't undersell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-crenshaw/veterans-tend-to-want-to-be-ultra-prepared-they-want-to-know/) [Dan Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-crenshaw/) > [I was the last person to announce I was running for Congress in a big district, and I still won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/i-was-the-last-person-to-announce-i-was-running-for-congress-in-a-big/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [There are over 30 doctors running for the US Congress this year. That's going to be rather strange. Half the time these folks will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-are-over-30-doctors-running-for-the-us-congress-this-year-that/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I thought running for Congress paled in comparison to being a parent and being a mom - especially a single mom of three kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-porter/i-thought-running-for-congress-paled-in-comparison-to-being-a-parent/) [Katie Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-porter/) > [Sometimes running for Congress is a four-year strategy in terms of getting out there and building a network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artur-davis/sometimes-running-for-congress-is-a-four-year-strategy-in-terms-of/) [Artur Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artur-davis/) ## More by Ted Lieu > [The United States represents hope, freedom and opportunities to those who are born here and to those who are not. Those values are part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/the-united-states-represents-hope-freedom-and-opportunities-to-those/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [In a nation as dynamic and diverse as the United States, what makes us great is that our founding principles are rooted in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/in-a-nation-as-dynamic-and-diverse-as-the-united-states-what-makes-us/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [What you want in foreign policy is clear, well-defined goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/what-you-want-in-foreign-policy-is-clear-well-defined-goals/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Yes, I am not well-behaved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/yes-i-am-not-well-behaved/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [I am a supporter of Medicare for All.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/i-am-a-supporter-of-medicare-for-all/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Donald Trump himself actually said during his campaign that he essentially thinks being unpredictable is a good thing. Maybe that's a good thing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/donald-trump-himself-actually-said-during-his-campaign-that-he/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [By the time Congress is even authorized to act after the President has launched nuclear weapons, there may no longer be a civilized world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/by-the-time-congress-is-even-authorized-to-act-after-the-president/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Indeed, President Trump seems to have a pretty good idea how to enrich oneself at taxpayer expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/indeed-president-trump-seems-to-have-a-pretty-good-idea-how-to-enrich/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [We are not and will never be an authoritarian regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/we-are-not-and-will-never-be-an-authoritarian-regime/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [It is important to show up. Showing up at marches and rallies and town halls and protests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/it-is-important-to-show-up-showing-up-at-marches-and-rallies-and-town/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [The suspicion that immigrants are not to be trusted or are unpatriotic is not just wrong; it is un-American. And dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/the-suspicion-that-immigrants-are-not-to-be-trusted-or-are/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [It is clear to me that creating a pathway for decryption only for good guys is technologically stupid. You just can't do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/it-is-clear-to-me-that-creating-a-pathway-for-decryption-only-for/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [When tragedy strikes, feeling helpless is understandable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/when-tragedy-strikes-feeling-helpless-is-understandable/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [If we turn our back on the world's most vulnerable people, we're eschewing the values our country was founded on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/if-we-turn-our-back-on-the-world-s-most-vulnerable-people-we-re/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) [Explore all 110 Ted Lieu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [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/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I came here as an immigrant. We were poor. We went to flea markets to sell gifts to make ends meet. Just the mere fact that I can be running for Congress is something that can only happen in a place like America. 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