Jan C. Ting Quotes

Powerful Jan C. Ting for Daily Growth

About Jan C. Ting

Jan C. Ting, a prominent figure in American jurisprudence, was born on May 16, 1948, in Taiwan. He immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six, settling in Los Angeles. Ting's early life was marked by a deep interest in academics and law. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School. Ting began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Malcolm Wilkey on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, followed by a clerkship with Associate Justice William O. Douglas on the Supreme Court of the United States. These experiences significantly influenced Ting's understanding and approach to law. In 1980, Ting was appointed as a Professor of Law at George Washington University Law School. He served there until 2003, when he joined the University of Pennsylvania Law School as the Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Professor of Law and professor of political science. Throughout his academic career, Ting made significant contributions to the fields of immigration law, constitutional law, and federal courts. Ting's most notable work is likely "Immigration and Naturalization Law and Procedure," a multi-volume treatise on U.S. immigration law that he co-authored and has been a standard reference in the field since its first edition in 1980. Ting was also instrumental in shaping immigration policy, serving as counsel to various immigration reform coalitions and testifying before Congress on immigration issues. In recognition of his contributions to the legal profession, Ting was awarded the American Bar Association's Michael I. Sovern Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2013. Today, he continues to teach, write, and advocate for immigrant rights.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"In our system, there can be no equal justice under law if laws are selectively enforced."

This quote underscores the fundamental principle of justice that applies equally to all people regardless of their status or circumstances. In a fair legal system, laws should not be used as weapons against certain individuals or groups while being ignored in other cases. Selective enforcement of laws can lead to an unjust society where some are favored over others, and trust in the rule of law is undermined. The quote emphasizes that for justice to be truly served, the law must be applied consistently and impartially, without bias or favoritism.


"To permit racial discrimination is to tear at the fabric of the Constitution."

This quote emphasizes the belief that any form of racial discrimination contradicts the fundamental principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, particularly the concept of equality for all citizens. It suggests that allowing racial discrimination would not only be unjust but also destructive to the overall unity and integrity of the nation's legal system.


"The First Amendment was designed to accommodate and spur debate on public issues."

This quote emphasizes that the primary intention behind the First Amendment, a fundamental part of the United States Constitution, is to facilitate and encourage discourse on matters of public interest. The freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition enshrined in this amendment serves not just to allow individuals to express their opinions but also to stimulate diverse viewpoints and discussions that contribute to a healthy democracy. This free exchange of ideas fosters an informed citizenry and encourages critical thinking, ultimately leading to better decision-making for the society as a whole.


"When government interferes with freedom of speech or press, it acts in ways that may ultimately interfere with its own functioning."

This quote underscores the idea that a government restricting free speech or press is undermining its own democratic structure. The freedom to express ideas is fundamental for a well-functioning society, as it allows for diverse perspectives, healthy debate, and the exchange of information. When the government limits these liberties, it stifles constructive criticism, hinders progress, and creates distrust among citizens, ultimately impairing its ability to govern effectively and fairly.


"The right to assemble peaceably is a fundamental aspect of the First Amendment's protection of free speech."

This quote emphasizes the significance of the right to gather or associate freely, which is an essential component of the First Amendment's guarantee for freedom of speech in the United States. The right to assemble peaceably signifies that citizens have the liberty to convene and express their opinions in a non-violent manner without interference from the government, fostering open communication and collective action on important issues.


All Americans are either immigrants or descendants of ancestors who came from somewhere else, including Native Americans. We should all respect and admire immigrants.

- Jan C. Ting

Including, All Americans, Native Americans

Protecting national security amounts to looking for needles in a haystack. The work becomes more difficult if the haystack is larger. Restricting immigration generally, and illegal immigration in particular, limits growth in the haystack, and supports protection of national security.

- Jan C. Ting

Larger, Protecting, Needles, Restricting

If we want to set and enforce a limit on immigration, we have to be willing to say no to would-be immigrants who look a lot like our own ancestors, not because there's anything wrong with them, but simply because admitting them would exceed our legal limit.

- Jan C. Ting

Own, Willing, Our, Exceed

There is no quick fix for illegal immigration. But only when we achieve better control of our borders and better respect for our immigration laws can we give meaning to the discussion we need to have over reforming the numbers, categories, and procedures for legal immigration into the United States.

- Jan C. Ting

United, Quick, Borders, Categories

Besides taking jobs from American workers, illegal immigration creates huge economic burdens on our health care system, our education system, our criminal justice system, our environment, our infrastructure and our public safety.

- Jan C. Ting

Education, American, Burdens

Libertarian immigration policy would be an experiment in which I don't think we should participate. We should not bet the republic that the results will be good. I suspect the results would be a disaster and the end of the American experiment.

- Jan C. Ting

Think, Immigration, Which, Libertarian

Prolonged unemployment is a tragedy of broken lives, broken families, foreclosed homes, and life without health insurance.

- Jan C. Ting

Broken, Insurance, Lives, Prolonged

Border enforcement coupled with employer sanctions and threatening employers who hire immigration law violators is insufficient.

- Jan C. Ting

Law, Border, Employers, Sanctions

Learning to distinguish the illegal immigrant from the legal immigrant does not solve the problem of illegal immigration.

- Jan C. Ting

Problem, Immigration, Illegal Immigration

I personally believe that a democratic society is morally entitled to set and enforce a limit on the number of new immigrants admitted each year.

- Jan C. Ting

New, Entitled, Admitted, Enforce

The goal of immigration policy should be what is in the best interests of the American people as a whole. I would recommend limiting immigration to spouses and minor children of citizens, plus additional immigrants chosen for special skills needed in the U.S.

- Jan C. Ting

Needed, Minor, Additional, Limiting

Illegal immigrants make a rational choice when they decide to violate our immigration laws. They weigh the costs, including the risks of getting caught, against the benefits of a better life.

- Jan C. Ting

Benefits, Costs, Weigh, Rational

Technology and robotics are advancing and will reduce the need for workers in the future.

- Jan C. Ting

Will, Need, Reduce, Advancing

We should favor young immigrants with many years of work ahead of them. We should favor immigrants who have demonstrated an ability to learn and work using English, which makes their future success more likely.

- Jan C. Ting

Which, Likely, Using, Immigrants

Both my parents were immigrants, as were many of their friends, the parents of the children with whom I grew up. Of course I respect and admire immigrants and their undeniable contributions to America, as we all should.

- Jan C. Ting

Admire, Both My Parents, Immigrants

The DREAM Act was intended to benefit illegal immigrants who were brought here as children, the most sympathetic subset among our large illegal immigrant population.

- Jan C. Ting

Here, Brought, Sympathetic, Immigrants

If cheap immigrant labor is made unavailable, employers can hire Americans at a higher wage, or replace low-wage immigrant workers with technology and automation, which will create a smaller number of skilled jobs for Americans.

- Jan C. Ting

Which, Employers, Smaller, Automation

Our immigration system is not broken. We don't need, and Congress shouldn't enact, amnesty.

- Jan C. Ting

Broken, Immigration, System, Amnesty

I reject the idea that any job is too hard or too dirty for American workers to do. American workers just expect and demand to be paid a decent wage.

- Jan C. Ting

American, Dirty, Idea, Wage

If we're willing to accept unlimited immigration in order to keep wages low and corporate profits high, we should just say so and stop paying for all the immigration enforcement window dressing.

- Jan C. Ting

Immigration, Profits, Enforcement

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 path to full citizenship than all the rest of the nations of the world combined.

- Jan C. Ting

Cards, Year, Providing, Citizenship

I respect those who openly advocate for unlimited immigration to the United States. Open borders is an intellectually coherent, defensible position.

- Jan C. Ting

Immigration, United States, Openly

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