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Pulitzer Prize winner: I'm an illegal immigrant
[Update 9:45 p.m. ET] - Turns out the New York Times only got the story after Jose Antonio Vargas' former employer, the Washington Post, turned it down. The Times, already set to go to print, "tore up the book" to get the story in, a Times blog post reports.
Jose Antonio Vargas has written many pieces that have put him in the spotlight - including ones on the Virginia Tech shooting that made him a Pulitzer Prize winner. But perhaps his biggest piece yet may be the one that could put him in the most precarious position - his New York Times Magazine piece in which he explains and documents his life as an illegal immigrant.
"I’m done running. I’m exhausted. I don’t want that life anymore," he writes in the personal essay. "So I’ve decided to come forward, own up to what I’ve done, and tell my story to the best of my recollection. I’ve reached out to former bosses and employers and apologized for misleading them — a mix of humiliation and liberation coming with each disclosure."
He acknowledges what happens now is up in the air - he could end up being deported.
"I don’t know what the consequences will be of telling my story," he writes.
The article has sparked a discussion online about the decision for someone to come forward so publicly and say they were an illegal immigrant.
"We were delighted to run the piece, which we believe is an extremely provocative and well-written piece of journalism," a spokeswoman for the New York Times told CNN.
Vargas is telling his story as he ramps up an effort with the advocacy group he founded called Define American, which says "It's time to have a real conversation about immigration in our country."
And perhaps there is no way more real to begin that conversation than with Vargas detailing his own story and struggles along the way.
Vargas, who came from the Philippines when he was 12-years-old, has spent most of his life flying under the radar: Using false documents and Social Security numbers to try to make it by. He even once gave the Secret Service an illegally obtained Social Security number so he could attend a White House dinner.
Though he may be a Pulitzer Prize winner, his tale is similar to that of illegal immigrants of every stature in this country, one of living in fear of being found out at any time.
In the piece, he said the fear was constant. Vargas attempted to move forward in his professional career, working hard in several major newspapers around the country including The Washington Post, where he won his Pulitzer. He tells of the difficulties in trying to succeed at what he does so well, while trying to make sure that only key people knew about his status.
"I was trying to stand out in a highly competitive newsroom, yet I was terrified that if I stood out too much, I’d invite unwanted scrutiny," he writes.
Things became more difficult for Vargas when the e-Verify program became part of the vernacular in the legislature. The program, set up by the Department of Homeland Security, works with employers to check if prospective employers are legally eligible to work.
It wasn't until Congress failed to pass the DREAM Act, which could have helped him and others who went to college or served in the military become citizens. And since he is a gay male, he also doesn't have the option of marrying an American citizen.
Finally he was tired, he said, of walking around with the question that had been posed to him after he won his Pulitzer: "What will happen if people find out?"
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Our illegal immigrant problem costs us over $100 billion per year. Why am I not surprised that CNN chooses to find a Pulitzer Prize winner and make him the poster person for what is a already a huge burden on a heavily in debt country? If he had not been given a free education and a free college degree he and his family would not have come here.
In response to that comment you made about the Irish immigrant video i have posted, You stated that they went through the process legally.......but I bet YOU WILL NOT DENY, that many came illegally as well.
And I bet you will not deny that in the 1800s we had no national debt and we had no Federal or state taxes and that everyone took care of themselves. Today we have over $14 trillion in debt and half of our population wants the government to give them money every single day of their lives. We don't need more people who can't pay for themselves.
You can not blame someone who came here as a "child", illegal or otherwise. As the years pass, fear of the consequences ( for them personally, and their living relatives) keeps them silent and hidden. I look at it this way, if they are doing the same thing "I" would do...being placed in their situation...I am not going to blame them. In fact, many become illegal in order to support their families, or give their children a better life. Would YOU do less?
It's not about blame, or virtues, or compassion. It is about the law. This man should be deported. I would think that if he applies, he has a good chance of being allowed to return legally. The moment we cherry pick what laws to obey, we have no laws at all.
Illegals... just the term is an oxymoron. Immigrants from Europe that came here didn't need any paperwork, nor were they termed "illegal immigrants" either. Everyone that comes here should receive a work permit, right off the boat and if they work, they get benefits. That simple. People want to make the system so complex when it's not. All they are doing is keeping people down so they can make slaves out of them. Tell me I'm wrong.
I too feel sorry for the ones that came over as children, they had no say so in a decision their parents made. However, there are avenues for these people to live in the country legally, they just don't seek it out.
legal or not, the man has talent & if he does get deported, he takes the prize with him. nothing but haters here.
Coming here as a child is one thing. Coming here as an adult, illegally, is, well, illegal and should be deported.
Yup. I hate criminals.
Check out paragraphs 5 and 6 of this page
http://www.rense.com/general87/legacy.htm
Not much to think about, huh?
what ever happend to the other Illegals of the 1910s,1920s, 1930s from Europe ??? they were all given a chance for a better life and future ! BELOVED AMERICA WHAT HAS BECOME OF YOU ?????
Most of them came legally. There's a difference. Namely, one is legal and the other isn't.
What European Illegals? My grandparents came from Europe and had to come in via Ellis Island, & had to meet all requirements, including learning English. How did the European immigrants get here except by boat?
I see stupid comments on here like "these illegal immigrants are bringing their 3rd world predicaments over here omg." Let me tell you something, we were like that too, a third world country. Stop trying to make it sound like the illegal immigrants are the problem in the United States. They aren't, if you are having problems finding a job blame the damn company you were trying to get a job too. Don't blame illegal immigrants for it.
Actually, no, the U.S. was never a third world country, but thanks for playing anyway. And yes, illegal immigrants are a large problem, as are people who illegal hire them. Basically, all criminals are a problem.
that is the most stupidest comment I have ever heard of. When we started out as a country we where a third world country, to think we weren't tell us you never got an education and your telling me that every company CEO or president in the United States that hires illegal immigrants are all illegals too. Your a moron. Thank you for playing the game How Stupid Can You Be, you just one first prize for being stupid.
Whoa, Whoa! I only saw one group of stupid comments – yours. P.S. Your grammar and spelling also are pretty bad..... Makes it difficult to take you seriously. Use a little more logic and a little less calling people morons before viewing oneself in the mirror.
An illegal alien, gay and a member of the media. Three strikes and you're out.
Ok then. Time for you to leave the country!
...and likely your forefathers as well.
I said this SEVERAL months ago....you just wait, America, until we are paying $6.00 for a head of lettuce because no American wants to work in the hot blistering sun to harvest our crops. So...if you don't believe me, ask the farmers in Georgia who are already experiencing this first hand. Mark my words on this!!!
I grow and harvest my own crops. It's the lazy city dwellers who let polticians dicatate when, where, and how much food will be purchased and its cost.
Migrants farm workers come here legally for seasonal farm work. Nothing illegal about them. Next bogus fear tactic?
if the GA farmers were paying more than $9.00 per hour they wouldn't be having any problem. Americans WILL do the job, just not for the wages these abettors want to pay nor will we work under the dismal conditions that an illegal will accept. And saying we'll be paying $10 per head of lettuce is rediculous. Even the Center for Immigration Studies says produce prices wouldn't rise more than 6% or so in the long term. That means a head of lettuce would rise from $1.00 to $1.06. I, for one, am more than willing to pay the extra six cents to ensure that our laws are enforced.
http://www.cis.org/ProducePrices-WithoutIllegalFarmworkers
@zookz thank you!!!!! So many people miss that point.
I'm Ojibwe, and I agree that everyone who got here after 1492 should get the hell out...NOW!
If I understand history correctly, EVERYONE in the U.S. is an immigrant from somewhere. The difference is who had to fight and die to keep it.
No problem, as long as we can take everything we invented, developed, and built, with us. That includes your computer.
My only problem with this country's anti-illegal immigrant movement is that it tends to target mostly Latinos. In this respect, one can argue that it is an unfair, and even a racist movement. I am all for combating illegal immigration, but that comes in all skin colors, sizes, and shapes. It is just that a few groups are much better at "melting in" than others. The sad part about this is that we can't rely on the country's leadership to be an example in setting the right rethoric in dealing with this problem.
Actually, I'm pretty sure most anti-illegal immigration people are against all illegal immigration. The reason it may seem anti-latino is that the vast majority of illegal immigrants are, in fact, latino.
I don't have a problem with latinos. I have a problem with ILLEGAL ALIENS, be they from Colombia or Camaroon, Nicaragua or Norway, England or Ecuador. It is not the race, ethnicity or nationality tha matters to the vast majority of us, it's the illegal's contempt for our laws, our social structure, and our sovereignty.
We already accept more LEGAL immigrants from hispanic countries than any other place. That's why they aren't allowed to participate in the Green Card Lotto.
Unfortunately for Jose he will be deported. That is the way the system works today. Bush and Obama have both tried to make the changes needed to keep people like Jose in the country but both Presidents failed. I don't think that we can deport all the illegal immigrants but at the same time, if you come forward, there is no other choice. Jose will be deported. There are no exceptions made. It's true that there is no pathway available to anyone else in his situation but the result of exposure will be deportation.
I just want to be clear about one thing; There is no place in Mexico where workers can go and get a Visa to pick lettuce. Either they come in illegally or Americans pay $20 for a head of lettuce. Maybe one day our government will wake the hell up and create the system we need for legal, cheap (lower than minimal wage), happy workers to come here and pick our produce for us, since we will not do it ourselves.
If you're going to do that, then just abolish the minimum wage. The reason illegals can live off of less than minimum wage is that they *don't pay taxes.*
If we had a flat 22% sales tax and no income tax then everyone who lives here will pay taxes. No exceptions. Whether you earn cash or check.
I disagree with your comment in part. They can get legal work visas. If the company they work for cannot find US employees to do that job, then they can apply for so many HB1 visas per year. Microsoft has done this and that is why engineers and CAD have a hard time getting a job with that company, because Microsoft goes to India and other countries to hire workers on these HB1 visas and in turn pay them $20-30 less per year than a US citizen would be paid.
So your comparing lettuce pickers to Computer Engineers? Come on, there is no Mexican farm labor VISA program for these workers, that's why they are illegal.
Think of all that TAX MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well paid Americans, well paid farm ownerrs, well paid store owners too. We pay $4.00 a gallon to move the food, why not level the field and make those uber rich slobs pay for their food. America, COLLECTING AGAIN!!!!!! No more FREE LIVINGS.
Again, missing the point. The point is that you can enter legally on HB1 visas. All you have to do is show that there are no US citizens willing, trained or available to do the job. This is not hard, because it is true. Lettuce picking is not as easy as people may think, as the CEO of Cincinnati based Chiquita. I am an Immigration Paralegal, so trust me there is a way.
H-2A visa's are ONLY for agricultural workers. Growers won't use it because they're obliged to pay the immigrants costs as well as ensuring that the migrant is paid fairly, housed, and fed.
As for the $20.00 head of lettuce...don't be a fool. Even the Center for Immigration Studies says produce prices won't likely rise more than 6% in the long term. Unless you're buying gold-plated lettuce from a farmers boutique on Rodeo Drive, you won't be paying anywhere near $20/head.
"Though he may be a Pulitzer Prize winner, his tale is similar to that of illegal immigrants of every stature in this country, one of living in fear of being found out at any time."
Actually, you could just make this statement more general and say it's similar to any other criminal. Deport 'em. A Pulitzer doesn't make you above the law.
Hear, hear!!
Thanks for letting us know now please leave or turn yourself into ICE.
@sandeelou I totally agree with you and you are correct. But in the same instance, our lawmakers are refusing to touch this issue on a federal level in fear of not being re-elected. There are millions of legal immigrants here that would flip there vote so quick if they felt that any person that spoke negatively about illegal immigrants. Our lawmakers need to have some backbone and state FACTS that illegal immigration is a volatile issue in this country and needs to be addressed. Until then, our laws must be upheld no matter who the person is. I personally know illegals, and have held a few become legal, they know how I feel and I am not afraid to speak it. Ask any legal immigrant and I bet many would agree that if you break the law, you get what's coming.
Ummm...illegals don't and can't vote.
@JMH, you dont get the point or read very well. In my post it states LEGAL IMMIGRANTS, which have the right to vote if they have received citizenship. They still would have ties to the illegal community and may feel strongly about politicians that want stricter immigration laws, but you also have legal immigrants that feel that everyone should be held accountable and go about entering the country the correct way.