Borders Quote by William J. Clinton
“Most illegal immigrants are not by nature lawbreakers. Most are looking for the chance to live in dignity. Nevertheless we must continue to discourage illegal immigration for it undermines control of our borders...and even more punishes hard-working people who play by the rules and who wait for their turn to come to the United States. Therefore we must enforce our laws, but we will do so with justice and fairness.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on immigration policy, early 2000s
The speaker acknowledges immigrants seek dignity, yet stresses enforcing borders fairly to protect law‑abiding citizens.
In simple terms: Immigration should be humane but law‑abiding.
Enforce immigration law with fairness.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- community impact
- law enforcement
- humanitarian aid
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies ensure both security and dignity?
- How can fairness be measured in immigration enforcement?
Balancing compassion with strict enforcement is complex.