Jose Antonio Vargas Quotes

When one refers to an immigrant as an "illegal alien," one is using the term as a noun. The user of the term is effectively saying that the individual, as opposed to any actions that the individual has taken, is illegal. The term “illegal alien” implies that a person’s existence is criminal. I’m not aware of any other circumstance in our common vernacular where a crime is considered to render the individual – as opposed to the individual’s actions – as being illegal. We don’t even refer to our most dangerous and vile criminals as being “illegal” people.

“Illegal” should describe only an action, not a person.

What person here illegally (and in his right mind), will go to the government, announce being here illegally (e.g. plead guilty), provide all sorts of information as to where that person lives etc. to get a work permit only to be a target for deportation in two years?

I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants.

You who are so-called “illegal aliens” must know that no human being is illegal.

Humanity does not come with citizenship or a green card.

It is not 'dehumanizing' to call someone an illegal immigrant if he/she resides in the host country illegally.

We are a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws.

Only Congress has the authority to adequately and holistically address our broken immigration system.

I do not support driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.

I will continue to enforce all the laws, including illegal immigration. Nothing changes.

I would have liked to see where we would have the authority to arrest illegal aliens just by being here illegally and book them into our jails, but that's not going to happen.

My thing is every generation of Americans has to answer what we call the 'Superman Question.' Superman comes, lands in America. He's illegal. He's one of these kids. He's wrapped up in a red bullfighter's cape. And you've got to decide what we're gonna do with Superman.

When it comes to fighting for citizenship that many people take for granted, there isn't anyone I would not talk to. When it comes to immigration, there isn't any question I will not answer.

Gov. Romney said he would veto the Dream Act. Gov. Romney essentially said the 11 million people ought to just go home, they ought to self-deport. President Romney, if he is elected, is not going to fix our immigration system.

I’ve yet to see a customer walk out of a restaurant because his dishes were being washed by an illegal alien.

We need employer sanctions to avoid illegal immigration so that legal immigration may dominate.

You can’t fix legal immigration until you fix illegal immigration.

We all agree on the need to better secure the border and to punish employers who choose to hire illegal immigrants. We are a generous and welcoming people, here in the United States, but those who enter the country illegally, and those who employ them, disrespect the rule of law and they are showing disregard for those who are following the law.

Simply put, President Obama's immigration strategy is all about politics and getting credit rather than about families and people.

What I think you are going to see is with DACA being gone, it gets rid of the magnet of drawing people over here, thinking they are going to come in and get amnesty.

Obama gave temporary amnesty to well over 1 million illegal immigrants, and Romney said nothing.

It is erroneous and profoundly irresponsible to suggest that up to three million undocumented immigrants living in America are dangerous criminals.

We never have been closed to immigration.

Sanctuary city policies disrespect the rule of law in this country.