"In the first place we should insist..." - Quote by Theodore Roosevelt
In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American.
More by Theodore Roosevelt
More on Immigration
“In this country, it doesn't make any difference where you were born. It doesn't make any difference who your parents were. It doesn't make any difference if, like me, you couldn't even speak English until you were in your twenties.”
“Immigration laws are the only laws that are discussed in terms of how to help people who break them.”
“It is my firm belief that it will be in the interests of the United States, especially our economic interests, to pursue comprehensive immigration reform.”
More on Americanism
“Americanism is a question of principle, of idealism, of character. It is not a matter of birthplace, or creed, or line of descent.”
“All privileges based on wealth, and all emnity to honest men merely because they are wealthy, are un-American.”
“There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism.”