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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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"Define America" – land of the free, home of the brave and be here legally.
to: made in the USA: times are very different, our country is getting overrun with people from other countries that don't work or pay taxes. And because we didn't come here across the water illegally – does not make us ignorant – you're the ignorant one. Are you here legally??
"our country is getting overrun with people from other countries that don't work or pay taxes"
As opposed to the LEGAL people that are here leaching off welfare, etc?
Illegal immigrants who don't work or pay taxes? Most illegal immigrants come here to work and they all pay some sort of tax: (1) sales tax, (2) property tax through renting or buying, (3) income tax when providing a bogus SSN, which they will never collect on.
Okay AJ, twist the knife, why don't you? Maybe we can deport the freeloaders, too.
@Sue: YES! At last, a real solution! The ONLY people we need to deport are the freeloaders! Everyone else pays taxes. Let's do that! I propose we put them all in a big balloon and send them to OZ. No one seems to do much there.
@AJ
#1 – Deport ALL Illegals including day labor and replace day labor with legals on welfare, i.e. workfare. In addition to traditional welfare benefits, they should also receive the pay that the illegals would have gotten but put it into a interest generating CD held by the state, which would be handed over to them, tax free, once they get off workfare so they have a small savings base to begin building upwards. I think that is MORE than fair.
#2 – Legals receiving welfare get put on workfare by replacing the day labor we just deported.
Sue,
You are dumber than a box of hair. Illegals come here to work. Their employers deduct taxes and Social Security. The Social Security Administration says that 12 billion dollars a year net profit is coming in from illegals who will never get any of that back.
In fact, my first sentence is an insult to all boxes of hair.
" gave the Secret Service an illegally obtained Social Security number so he could attend a White House dinner" Wow...maybe knowingly broke a couple laws there, eh? Guess Secret Service is not very good at ensuring peoplke are who they say they are as part of their security protocol.
Arrest, fine, prison, and deport.
Why don't you come back and post again when you have accomplished what this man has accomplished against the odds he has faced.
Or at least do something to get the rusty pickup on cinderblocks out of your front yards before it completely disappears in the weeds.
@ Bill aka Jose... This man accomplished nothing. All his resources were stolen and fraudulent which nullifies everything he thinks he did. Now, if he had accomplished great things without fraud, stealing, lying and being parasitic to a nation perhaps he would have something to be proud of.
"He even once gave the Secret Service an illegally obtained Social Security number so he could attend a White House dinner.".
Wow! This just shows how dangerous our unsecure border and illegal aliens could be.
Illegal aliens. That could have been anyone.
Pretty sure some legal idiots were able to sneak past Secret Service, too.
@TexJenn – Name ONE. If you find him, lock him up too.
There was that couple that made the news, from one of those stupid Housewives shows on Bravo.
Rumsfeld comes to mind. He was legal and idiot. Or how Dick "they will greet us as liberators" Cheney? That was pretty stupid.
His social security is valid, he got it from Dept. of SS Human Resources. it wasn't fake.
Just so long as he owns up to his share of the national debt once he gains citizenship.
It's a wonder any illegal would want that though. I don't think they realize what they are getting themselves into.
Imagine a family of 10 which is pretty typical for illegals with 2 adults and 8 children they would owe almost a half million bucks to Uncle Sam!
Ouch.
Two more cells for tax evasion and 8 more foster cribs filled, all on the arm of tax payers. Thjat sounds like another half million, on top of the dues.
Ship 'im all back. It would cost less than a half mill, I'm sure. A no-brainer.
Wow, I bet you don't know any immigrants personally. Every immigrant I know is single and well-educated.
Don't you get it? He's been paying payroll taxes for years. And years.
Back up your "family of 10" with facts instead of mindless rant.
Wow - what a bigot:
"Imagine a family of 10 which is pretty typical for illegals"
Have you ever even met an illegal alien?
Most of you teabag nutcases who post your angry remarks here are so damned clueless about who they are, what they do here, how big their contributions are to our economy, why your fellow Republican farmers still hire them and have the sense not to stick their necks out and post here, and how we are stealing billions per year from illegals through the Social Security System.
I think he should start the process of legally obtaining citizenship, obviously, but he immigrated when he was 12. 12 year olds don't just hop on a boat and come to America, they are brought by their parents or family members. Children really have the hardest lot in this, since they are being targeted for actions they had no control over.
well, this is great except for the current immigration system does not provide any framework for legal path for people like him. other than green card lottery, which is obviously as random as it gets.
See the proposed Dream Act!!
Then they should take it up with the parents who put them in that situation. We have enough legal citizen children to care for without being the wet-nurse to children who are here illegally, thanks to their criminal parents.
waaa I'll drive the bus myself.....
Well they give the Nobel to anyone nowadays so no surprise this vermin got a Pulitzer. He probably got it precisely because he is a h0m0 illegal.
You are what is wrong with the USA. Jose Antonio Vargas demonstrates more integrity and honor than you ever could or will. I vote for him to stay and for you to swim with the sharks – and II hope you get a leg cramp.
This was supposed to be a reply to NowSwimBack.
Gods, with a handle like "nowswimback", you may as well try reasoning with a houseplant.
So what you are saying is that breaking the law, lying and cheating are honorable traits.
If it works for the Republicans why not Pulitizer Prize winners?
it doesn't surprise me that you don't what honor is....
typical classless american
Are you "proud" of your comment, too?
We have to!!!. You poop on our vegetables!!!!
So if you're a proud Mexican your name should be Juan not John, Moron!!!
juniorwx–He's no mexican, He's filipino & where he came from, their parents push their children to finish school, go to college until they reach their goal. Not like here where they have so many drop-outs. Yes he should be proud because Filipinos has American heritage, European heritage, Asian heritage, Latin heritage, all four. You people are a bunch of ignorants.
Cheating whom exactly? He was a kid, brought to the US by his parents. I wonder what you would've do in his place. Walked to the nearest embassy and demand to be returned to your impoverished country without your family?
I agree. many children end up here through no choice of their own and don't fully understand their "legal" status until almost adults. By then, many have built lives here. Not in some unknown land of their forefathers. So. what to do. Each case is complicated what their parents hadnt done for them. And many just want to be productive citizens. While other naturals...squander and would even sell their birthright if they had the chance.
did his parents make him lie to his employers and the Secret Service?
Where in the article does it say that he was brought against his will by his parents?
When does it end? First Anchor Babies and now Anchor Adolescents? At some point that adolescent became an adult and perpetuated his own parents' crime..... for decades. He and his parents need to be charged & deported. now.
maybe it wouldn't be so poor if all the intellectuals weren't moving to the U.S.,Canada,and Europe.maybe sending an educated man home would help.
Yes, if it is a bad law, breaking it demonstrates the highest level of honor. The founders of this nation, Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Socrates, Ghandi, Mandela, Cicero, Moses, Jesus... You name a hero, and I'll tell you the unjust law they broke.
Unjust law? You must not live in a border state – I do. Come to CA and see what it is like when the 3rd world poor uneducated and breeding like crazy come in masses and bring their 3rd world to the US.
That anything like the American made 3rd world you find in the urban ghetto or the rural south?
So, do you enjoy perpetrating stereotypes about urban minorities and southerners?
Some of our inner cities are tough, but they are hardly Syria.
Likewise, some rural areas may be economically challenged, but are hardly Somalia.
above In response to 'Really?'
I do. Stereotypes come from truth. Ive lived and worked in both places. I would rather deport all of the white trash and welfare gangsters than the people that come here to work.
Actually, stereotypes usually come from exaggeration and bigotry.
like you!!!
Do you understand that when huge number of unskilled uneducated people come here "to work" they bring pay for unskilled jobs to peanuts and no American with real expenses can live on that? Not to mention that lots of them work for cash while families with anchor babies collect welfare, medical services, foodstamps. So you may want to rethink your wish.
The South has a lower rate of life expectancy that many third world countries. You racists have your nerve saying that liberal states are third world countries. No, the South is third world with its conservative policies that cut health care and education. The Latinos live longer than you do, so you need to learn some tips from their culture.
Their own culture makes them the "3rd World": Keep pumping out babies they can't afford, corrupt governments that steal all the resources and sell them to "1st" world bidders for export. (Just like America now)
Come to Texas and see how we benefit off the labor of illegal immigrants. I suppose that is the benefit of sales and property tax instead of a state income tax.
Marc, do you realize that Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Ghandi, and Mandela didn't come around until well after this country was founded? Plus, sitting in the front of the bus and making your own salt are a little bit different than stealing social security numbers and lying to get into the white house.
True that.
Laws are imperfect, human is imperfect. That's why we have amendments, reforms to the law to make it better.
Unjust law? How are our nation's immigration laws unjust? Is it because you have to fill out multiple forms? Or maybe that you have to wait several months to years for everything to be processed? I know from experience how hard it can be to wait for immigration forms to be processed so you can be with a loved one but it is a part of every government and if a person is unwilling to obey the government in this then they shouldn't be allowed to stay here as there is no telling what law they will decide is "unjust" next. Maybe they will decide that laws against killing anyone they want is "unjust" and go on a shooting spree.
Is it "just" when you have a quota on immigration which is based on where the person is immigating fromand color of their skin? You set a limit of 100 for the African countryman or mexican but unlimited for the white British? Its easy to call it a just law for the white man because you make it easy for one race and not for the other. That's just one of the unjust part of the Immigration Law. Countless illegal people already here are illegal because they waited and waited and their papers were never processed in time for them to still be here "legally." (It is a very touchy subject because most "illegal" american are also "non-white." It is a reason they will not pass the Dream act. But they would not admit it to you.)
Thank you Marc, well said.
Exactly!!!!!!
No offence ..My dear friend his name is Gandhi .
Hey, let's give a chance to the North Ameican Indian to see what they have to say...After all its their country...Or not?
Just ask any politician. In private, of course. In the light of day they rail against this sort of thing, but once they believe they're alone, our politicians tend to be the sort you wouldn't want anywhere near your children, let alone writing the legislation by which we citizens are governed.
Are you not aware of how stupid you are? You are too dim to bringing anything of value to the US. There should be a way to throw out the deliberately stupid and ignorant.
Oh please, speeding is illegal, should we kick you out of the US? Since when does the status of someone's citizenship define morals?!
Try that in most any other developed country and see what it gets you. Being in a country illegally makes you a criminal.
@V. No!! If you break Laws concerning DRIVING, you may lose your LICENSE ..... if you break Laws concerning IMMAGRATION, you should be BOOTED back across the BORDER !! Get it??? Gezzzz!
uh, no. It doesn't say that anywhere.
Those are the typical LIBERAL honorable traits. The rest of us seek the truth and expect the legal population to comply with the laws of the land.
As honorable as living off of this man's hard earned tax payments.
Most of Congress both House and Senate are lying, cheating and BREAKING the Law. Does this come as a shock
That's pretty much a checklist of politicians' main traits as well, so what's your point?
no thanks, Gells.....
Jose... don't let the door hit you on the way out...
Yeah takes real integrity to steal multiple people's social security numbers and ruin their credit and cause no telling what other problems.
Yeah, like winning a Pulitzer.
Many times people just make-up a social security number to go with their name. So long as they pay their taxes the IRS and SS dept don't really care if the name matches the number. So it wasn't necessarily a stolen number.
That is very true actually, I have seen it numerous times, make up an SSN and pay your taxes. As long as you never file for a return and always have a refund they can keep nobody checks...also I am familiar with Swedish and Polish immigrant communities that hide many illegals from their respective countries, but nobody seems to want to check their papers, hmmm, light colored skin has it's advantages
I'm sorry, I missed the part where they mentioned he ruined people's credit. I'm sure a Pulitzer prize winner has terrible credit and his mission is to ruin credit lines (insert sarcasm)
Once illegal, soon phd– don't be a hypocrite. Just because you got your amnesty doesn't make you legal. Who's credit did he ruined?
Ruin their credit?? Ruin whose credit?? And if he caused "no telling what other problems," why don't you find out about them and tell us about them?
Look fool you dont know what you talking about. Where did it say he ruin someone's elses credit. You would be surprise to know what you can buy from AMERICANS for the right price.
Honor? Lying to the Secret Service? Lying to your employers about your entire professional career? Stealing Social Security numbers? How are those actions in any way honorable? I don't see how you can call this guy honorable or say he has integrity.
Agree! He must have just found the integrity or bought it on ebay with someone's credit card.
And by revealing his secrets, shows terrorist they can get past the Secret Service and infiltrate the White House.
Trust me...he is extremely proud of his accomplishments of being an illegal. His Pulitzer Prize should be for his great performance as an "acting" American. You are either American or not. Illegals "act" American without understanding what America means to us – not them. This is why they display THEIR flags in our country and speak THEIR language in our country and celebrate THEIR holidays in our country.
Exactly!
RainyAlaska: I totally agree!
Fitter: Not all of us liberals are fond of illegal immigrants.
I wonder what kind of stuff you have done.
How could he get away, lying to the Secret Service?
I don't see why this guy should be exempt from a law the other people are required to follow. The law is supposed to be FAIR. If other illegals are asked to leave, he should be asked to leave too.
No, YOU are what is wrong with the USA, you and your bleeding heart. Illegal means illegal, nothing more, nothing less...and please don't try and play the racism card because I AM a Hispanic American. I don't hate Mexicans, I hate people that break the law and those that facilitate and encourage said breaking of the law such as yourself.
of note..he is from the Phillipines, not Mexico, please don't confuse that as NOT ALL mexicans are illegal.
Damnit! You said it before I had a chance :).
Well put my friend...this has nothing to do with color, race or any other type of discrimination...it all comes down to legal verses illegal. Taking Ellis Island into consideration, anybody who is against legal immigrants (e.g. Hispanic) are pure hypocrites...on the other side of the coin, what the hell is the point of having laws, if once something is determined to be illegal, there is no enforcement?
What the hell is a "hispanic American"? You just made up a new ethnic group.
The term has been around for a long time.
and where was grandma born Jose? Have your forgotten how your "so American" butt got here? You are a shame to us Hispanics, we should always protect out people. Me das verguenza, guey!
Percy–Haven't you read? If you don't know the facts, don't post. Jose is from the Philippines where the people are educated. So don't worry about him putting shame on you hispanics. The hispanics already have a bad reputations.
He's in the country illegally! He's broken the law!! He should be deported!! How is that America fault? Get him out!!
I don't know if you are being serious or just mentally retarded..
Yeah! We don't want any intelligent, thinking people here! We'd rather have conservatives, Christians, and Republicans! Deport him at once!
Agree with the conclusion, though not the analysis.
Thats a good Gells 😉
No you are what's wrong in America. He has broken the law, used phony SSNs, used a false ID to access the WH and POTUS but you'll vote for him to stay. Where does it stop with you liberals. The only time you want the law enforced is when it's to your advantage. There does not appear to be much hope for our once great republic when you reward people for breaking/ not upholding the law. A very sorry end in sight for our society.
He broke the law and having publically admitted it, is likely to be deported. Us liberals don't need you reactionaries telling us how we think.
Thank you for posting that. I am so sick and tired of Conservatives assuming all liberals are pro illegal. It might come as a shock that we own guns too. They just don't get it and never will. For them it is about race. To me, it is an issue of the law. Don't break the law. Period. Whatever the law is. DO NOT BREAK IT. If you do, you go home. There need not be a racial overtone to this debate. Yet the conservatives always interject it, don't they?
I SO agree with you Gells. The vitriol demonstrated in the hateful rhetoric here is as UN-American as it gets. We are all descended from immigrants....legal or not! Look what this young man has done! He IS the American dream....the others are America's nightmare!
then why in all these years of knowing his status did he NOT apply for US citizenship
The law. He has to leave for 10yrs and then hope to be granted a Permanent Residency.
I recommend to those people who questioning "why has he not apply for citizenship" review their immigration law and see if you can find a way to apply for it. It took our family over 18 years for our permanent residence application to get approved. it's not as easy as the common people think it is.
Because his situation meant that he was not eligable
There is a significant difference between say, the Irish flood that came here during the Potato Famine in the 1900s when there were far fewer laws with regard to immigration. Now that these laws are in place, they need to be enforced. The problem most of us have is not that there is still a flood of people who want in on the American Dream, it's that people are stealing it. If you gain your citizenship here, you are my fellow man and I welcome you, regardless of how strange your accent or how weird your food might smell, whatever. But as a citizen, it is expected that you acclimate quickly to life in THIS society or go back to the one you left.
Exactly! My ancestors came here in 1755 aboard the sailing ship Minerva. They were part of the Dutch-German immigrants who responded to Thomas Penn's offer to farm other people's land for 7 years in exchange for "free passage" to America. It was not a free boat ride across the Atlantic. As I approach the age for collecting Social Security, I am appalled, disillusioned, and mad as hell our U.S. government has tapped into SSI for illegal immigrants. Elderly green card holders who came here after being sponsored by a loved one. The operative word is "sponsored". However, upon arrival, there is no financial support and they file claims for Social Security. Why should they be sponsored with money paid by American citizens and taxpayers? Now the Government wants to increase collection age and terms because SSI may go bankrupt by 2027. Unbelievable!!! American citizens are FED UP with liberal policies, ACLU, Raza, and other organizations who support illegal immigration and the costs associated with it. No other developed country allows illegal immigrants to collect benefits and retirement from their national programs. Green card holders, expired VISAs, and illegal immigrants need to leave the U.S. immediately before we become financially and environmentally reuined from too many people trying to hang out to our life raft that took over 200 years to build.
You are an idiot. Green card holders are not illegal immigrants.
Molly, can you give me an example of a person who is collecting Social Security who just got here or recently here? SSI is paid based on earnings, so I guess I don't believe you. Also, you do know the difference between someone who is here illegally and someone who has immigrated legitimately? And I don't care when your ancestors came here, they still were immigrants.
PatSJ, FYI, the US does offer newly arrived legal immigrants emergency social security payments of $500 per month. Those elderly new immigrants who will never work a day in the US receive $500 of your tax dollars every month. How does that make you feel?
it's true I have a friend who is friends with someone who gets some kind of assistance most likely SS, yes they are newly arrived from Eastern Europe who never worked here I also heard many from Russia. That could be the reason why we're broke. Hopefully they now have jobs but I don't think so because they're in their middle age & older, they're too old to work. I'm sure there are more from other countries, that's why they come.
Maybe its time people like you stopped basking in the glory of the achievements of your "ancestors". The question you should ask yourself is in what way have you contributed to the progress of the US other than just being a "descendant" of someone who hopped off a boat a few hundred years ago. There is also a huge probability that your"Dutch" ancestor came here penniless and just robbed some poor native indian off his property.
Good post ! I like
I guess I'll just leave immediately then. Didn't realise my green card wasn't legal. Could somebody tell my (American) wife why I'm gone? It will probably be quite a relief to her – at the moment, as my sponsor, she's legally on the hook for any benefits I manage to illegally claim from the government. The money I've paid for social security since I got here and started working will probably be a help to you too. Hopefully that will go some way to mitigate the irritation caused by my being here.
Thankfully, not all Americans think like you, and for every one that's fed up with liberal policies there's another who wants more liberal policies. That's why you alternate between liberal and conservative presidents, with each side very rarely having much more or less than 50% of the vote.
If you've got an American wife you have no need for a green card. But tell me, you make much of the contribution you make to Social Security (yawn... I don't expect to see any of that when I retire, regardless of my lifetime of contribution) but could you tell me what you receive from being here? Just curious.
God you're an idiot! Shows how much you actually know about the immigration laws. The days of marrying an American and becoming a citizen automatically are over. So please stop being ignorant and stupidly posting on forums you have absolutely no clue about. Mexicans are decendents of mayans you f...king half-wit. I just have to stop, only a fool takes up a fool's argument. But seriously go back to school, read a book, better yourselve, moron.
*yourself
Oh and Mexico was primarily Aztec with various other indigenous groups, including the Mayans in the south. Remember SAY NO TO ILLEGALS, meth kills, lay off the pipe.
Did he register for the draft and did he file tax returns?
oh molly you are a mor@n. your ancestors were brought over to work other peoples land alright, NATIVE AMERICANS lands. They lands your illegal ancestors were brought to work on by the thieves and rapist who stole them.
All countries belonged to different peoples at some point in the past. Didn't Mexico belong to the Mayans at some point? Not sure who the Phillipines belonged to and don't care to look it up. This isn't about land that changes hands of civilizations. These illegals aren't coming here for land or teepees. They are coming here to benefit from the resources of the United States of America and its government and that belongs to nobody but us.
Expected? By whom? You? You now have the power to decide what your new fellow citizens must act and live like? Ever been to Chinatown? Does the existence of Chinatown somehow degrade you as an American? One last question...what's so great about how you live and think?
I am with you and Gells on this one. The lack of governmental response to immigration requests is staggering. I think it is honorable to admit what happened, look for a way to make amends, and go forward. He is an intelligent, hard working person - isn't that what we hope all our citizens would be? I am not native to this country - I was born here as a decendant of European immigrants. I say grant amnesty to those here and let's go on with our lives.
Don't worry Mr. Illegal Immigrant(Crimminal), the President of the United States and the Justice Department will come to your rescue.
Why must you be such an idiot?Have you no self respect?
Repeal all laws! Open the border!
Thank god you are here! Finally, someone worthy to decide who gets to break the laws and who doesn't! He is a great example of the American Dream ... he lied and cheated and stole his way to the top ... THAT is the American Way! Seriously, I would love to stand at the border and arbitrarily decide who can come in and who can't purely based on who can contribute to our society and who can't ... but thats not how it works, you check in at the gate, do your paperwork, wait your turn and get in. You can pitch the "Amnesty for illegals that have great skills" Bill to Congress but I don't think it will fly.
Scrappy, I agree with you 100 %
Ah...Its not a voting option. He's smart....so fill out the paperwork like I did.
theres nothing wrong with the US... rules are rules.... since when did we decide who stays by their personal integrity? Where was his integrity in lying to the UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE so he could have dinner at the white house? eh?
The GOP is still here. Integrity not required.
Rules are rules... I remember when Rosa Parks broke the rules, when Dr. King did. George Washington broke a lot of laws and today would be called a "terrorist". If the law sucks, break it.
Rosa Parks and Dr. King were legal citizens who protested because they were being denied rights guaranteed to them under the law. Their actions have nothing to do with illegal immigrants.
One confession, under pressure due to e-verify, after 20 years of lying to cover up his crimes makes Jose an honorable man of integrity?? I don't think so. Do you really believe Jose would have confessed were it not for the discussions and penalties imposes on employers and illegal employees? I highly doubt it.
Vargas deserves a break because he had no control over the criminal act of his parents, but he should be prosecuted for lying to the Secret service and /or using fake SSN. I hope he did not use SSN that belonged to somebody else – I've heard of cases where people are suffering because soemboy else is using thier SSN.
"Jose Antonio Vargas demonstrates more integrity and honor than you ever could or will. " Those words do not mean what you think they mean, clearly. He only confessed when he realized he could no longer conceal his CRIME. Yes. Crime. Multiple counts no less, thankfully, like many criminals he's given a confession. Now it needs to be applied in a court of law. Integrity?! He used a false SSN to obtain white house access allegedly.... Integrity.
I've got an idea..... we'll keep him and deport you!
Ohh ok so as long as they have integrity and are smart it is ok they broke the law?
rofl typical liberal buffoon.
Apparently
He was 12 yrs old. He did not commit any crime as he did not have idea of what their parents were doing.
What about his declaration of citizenship on employment applications and the social security numbers he submitted? Those aren't illegal acts on his part?
Integrity? Honor? Ummm...he lied and connived to get what he wanted...where do you get the idea that he fits these accolades?
Granted in his case he had to b/c he was brought here by his parents. Anybody in his place would. The problem is that US makes it COMFORTABLE for illegals to come here. Make it uncomfortable, punish their employers (yes, we will have to pay more for a lot of things, but it is worth it not to let US turn into 3rd world country), take away social services – no medical, no free education for any age, no foodstamps – they will leave.
Okay, so your opinion is that a criminal has more integrity than who? I don't understand your comment.
If you ever sped, ran a red light makes you a criminal too. Matter of all American are criminals in that aspect which can actually hurt and kill other citizens, I see every single day, cutting people off, illegal lane changes, not yielding. That is much more dangerous to me than a illegal immigrant picking fruit wanting to make a better life, paying sales taxes and putting the money back into our economy versus all these big corporation that destroyed our economy, sending jobs overseas, and preying on the needy. That is more inhumane
You actually think they spend their money here? Mexico's economy would collapse if the illegals stopped sending their money there. It is the bigget part of their economy. Your a moron.
I don't know if you were just referring to Mexican illegal immigrants in general or Jose Antonio Vargas? He is from Southeast Asia, you know.
You're absolutely right, Mexicans never buy any food while they are here. Never rent a slum apartment from a slumlord. Never buy clothes or gas, go to movies ... Right? You are the moron. And see my post about their one-way business relationship with Social Security. The fund would be bankrupt if we weren't stealing from them.
*you're
...the advocacy group he founded called Define American, which says "It's time to have a real conversation about immigration in our country."
"Our country?" It's not "our" country unless you're a citizen. Right now you're an uninvited guest who has broken dozens of laws, beginning with that whole "sneaking in" and peaking with illegally gaining access to the White House. Seems like you've made a career of sneaking into places you shouldn't be, Mr. Vargas.
Do we need immigration reform? Yes.
Do we need to have a discussion about what to do with children who were brought here before their majority? Yes.
Do we need to have amnesty for every illegal immigrant? No.
We don't need immigration reform. The military just needs to be put on the border. And the anchor babies need to go too. What is lost in this debate is the fact that if people from the Third World are allowed to keep migrating here, even legally, then this will eventually be a Third World nation.
I think you misunderstand what a "fact" is.
@Alyssa – I think he got it right. Proof is in the pudding. Third world president, and we're in the dump in 2 year. You must be confused.
NowSwimBack, he is from the Phillippines. Please look on a map. That is not a border country. But, since you insist, I assume you want the military covering the entire West Coast (keep out the Filipinos and other Asians (Chinese, Vietnamese, Burmese, Pakistanis, etc.) AND the East Coast (keep out the Irish, Angolans, Portuguese, etc.) AND Canada (keep out those who cannot subvert coastal military guard). That's a HUGE stretch of land. Almost as big as the emptiness in your head.
Bob–This country is not your country either, It's the Native Americans. I bet your grandparents were illegals so stop picking on Jose.
Why don't you explain your simple "Yes" and "No" answers? I bet you can't without showing your bigotry.
Deport him along with the other 20 million of his fellow illegals. No mercy, no quarter.
So now some other country can collect income tax for the work he did in this country while ours collects none. What a shrewd business decision. Penalties should be eye for an eye. Deporting him does not fix the damage he has done. I say let him stay after he pays a stiff fine and make him pay any back taxes with penalties and interest and make him go through a rigorous citizenship process.
He. Was. 12.
@Michael, what damage has he done? He's been a great contributor to our society. Indeed he's been paying taxes into systems that he'll never get a penny out of (SS and Medicare).
Alyssa, he lied to employers, he lied to the Secret Service, he probably obtained an education by lying too. He used false Social Security numbers to advance himself. It doesn't matter if there was no "damage". What he did is illegal. He is a criminal. It's really very simple.
@Todd Yes he WAS 12. But judging from that picture he has been an adult for several years... now what is his excuse?
Todd, He is 30 now. I was here for "only" 6 years before he was a legal adult. Since then 12 years have passed.
he achieved more than any of you clowns will in your lifetime.
@rahul – You are absolutely correct. So do a lot of criminals. So do a lot of gov't handout recipients. Still a criminal, on many fronts. Has known for years to hide and worry, and hiding in the shadows. Revoke his P.P., lock him up, fine him, then send him home. HE KNOWS BETTER and has before he ever went to college.
@rahul he sure has, he has accomplished committing crimes on numerous occassions.
Alyssa people like Michael are the a bad example of Americans, remember fear breeds hate, basically he is just upset that this guy is a lot more capable than him and he is a citizens, but I guarantee you that people like Michael will be the first ones to cry to government when something is not working like him getting screwed like companies like Bank of America. Unfortunately we have a lot of those ignorant folks here, that think they are holier than thou but yet I guarantee they break the law every single day by speeding, running red lights, not using their blinkers, following to close, etc. Those are the types people that love to tell others what they need to do but yet do not contribute anything positive to society. This is what lingers on these type of comments. They are upset because an unskilled, non english speaking immigrant is taking a job on the field or a job that they just not qualified enough to take even if it was offered to them.
so. what. he . was. 12. he. grew. up. didn't. he?
Deport Illegals now. Stop draining our tax funded services. If you want to come here then do it the legal way. No social security and no welfare for illegals.
You people just don't get it....don't blame the illegals for draining our funds. The legislatures in every state voted on the benefits that would be extended to these people. And it will take a legislature to pass new laws limiting those benefits. If enough of you vote there could be a change. Don't think passing an illegal imigrant law will stop the "northern flow". Stop offering the benefits and the flow of people will also stop.
No, sandeelou, you don't get it either. It is the U.S. citizens, for the most part, who are "draining" our benefits system. Systems like unemployment. Social Security and Medicare (which Vargas could not collect.) Welfare for those who refuse to be berry-pickers. Did either of you actually read this story about Vargas? He's been paying INTO the tax system, supporting those "draining" the benefits "system," for years.
You are really ignorant. He probably pays more in taxes than you earn in a year.
Joe,
Would you like to have a fact relevant to your post? Here it is: in 2007, illegal aliens contributed a net $12 billion to the Social Security fund, which they will never get back. That's the truth.
Every objective study ever done of their net economic impact, when you look at what they cost in resources and what they contribute to the economy, is very strongly positive in their favor. You have been sold a bill of goods because you believe that Faux News is telling it straight. The right wing is lying to you, Joe.
Of course, you ARE the right wing, here to spread the lies.
Wow, he's been using false and illegally obtained social security numbers all his life. Nothing to see here, America. Look away.
Good lord, should he EVER be deported. After spending a hefty amount of time in jail for his crimes first, of course. I absolutely love the way this guy is going to be treated like a victim and a hero after living as a criminal in this country for so many years.
It's time to get fed up with this nonsense, America. I am married to an immigrant... a LEGAL one. And every last ILLEGAL immigrant in this country like Jose Vargas is slapping my wife and me in our faces for being stupid enough to actually follow the rules and respect the law and do everything right. Stories like this have whittled my tolerance for illegal immigration down to absolutely zero. Deport him, and do it now. It is inexcusable that he can be out in the open with this and not be punished in any way.
Because you were shallow enough to marry your wife for her looks, she should be allowed to stay? I'm laughing at you Pat because you think she really loves you. The joke is on you. Don't worry, she'll leave you when she finds the next best thing.
She just marry you for US citizenship.
To James and Luisito: How do you know the lady married for papers? There are already legal immigrants who marry U.S. citizens in this country, you morons!!!!!
Pat, never curse yourself for doing the right thing. You don't have to be "tired".
Spot on Pat. My M.D. brother-in-law cannot come here but this criminal is allowed in and expects to stay. Yes, he is a criminal. He has admitted to breaking the law on multiple occasions. This is an insulting pirece of work. It is a book promotion disguised as a news article.
Every alien who marries a US citizen is not just in for the papers, but it is a helluva motivator.
What I want to know is–what crimes? In jail for what? Being brought here as a 12 year old by his family? Learning how to read and write English better than you can? Maintaining a job and paying taxes?
IS HE TIRED????? Jose .... you should be ashamed of yourself!!!!!!!!! It dosnt matter who you are and what have you accomplished. You should be deported. There are thousands of legal immigrants who are trying to come to this country legally and are stuck in an unfair system for years at a time. You have LIED, DECEIVED, and prayed on the american benevolence for years, living on our taxes without any remorse. You should be jailed first for braking the law, then deported and never be allowed into this country. Shame on you!!!!!!!!
I think Jose had one of those low-paying, berry picking jobs that no one in this country would want. Oh, wait a minute....
Living as high profile a life as he did [they don't hand out Pulitzers to the guys waiting in Home Depot parking lots for work], he undoubtedly paid his taxes with a fake SS #. It's not like he isn't contributing to society [again...Pulitzer anyone?]. Heck, with the amount of money he makes he probably subsidizes several "worthy" Americans. The guy came here when he was 12. I doubt he arranged for his passage to the US alone. He was a kid for god's sake. How hard-hearted can you be?
Wow, what a shrew.
A shrill shrew.
@ ANDREW
Shame on you!!! Best defense is attack on someone else! End it seems that you are attacking!!! But what are you defending yourself from??? Hmmm... have you paid your taxes this year Andrew???? LOL
Yes, he's a terrific writer, but he is an illegal alien and that means he's here under false pretenses. If he's allowed to stay, then so should the other illegals. I believe that to live here you have to obey the law and he broke it. He is not above the law.
For your beliefs to be consistent, then all of the American ancestors who ever participated in breaking a treaty with the original inhabitants should have been deported, and their descendants never allowed into this country because, according to some of you, they could never be trusted after a family history of such criminality.
Bring back the United Tribes of America!
I think he should be allowed to stay now. We need people like him, not people waiting infront of the Home Depot, standing on the corner waiting for work, none of these people pay taxes, they're getting paid under the table. their wives and girfriends collect welfare checks because they keep having babies. They never want to assimilate with the rest of us. Jose Vargas has, Filipinos assimilate easily because they speak english, It's their second language in the
Philippines. They're the third largest speaking country in the world. Fact is they come here with degree, skilled. I don't think he meant to be in that situation he's in. Give him a break.
Retard should've never let the cat out of the bag. This is for publicity..
What choice did Jose have given that e-verify was gonna catch up with him sooner than later. Anyone who starts their life here in the US as a criminal needs to go. We have enough home grown criminals already, no need for more.
I'd rather have Jose Vargas as my neighbor and friend than any of you hateful, small-hearted, pathetic excuses for Americans.
I agree with you Suzanne, wholeheartedly. I am appaled by all the hateful comments made here. Jose was 12 years old when he came to the USA. Think people, think people before you start spreading hate.
Agreed.
We're hateful because we don't want liars and criminals in our country? We're hateful because we want criminals who are here illegally to leave? We're hateful because we want better protection for our borders? You're welcome to move to any country you choose. You can be neighbors with all the criminals and liars you want. You won't have to worry about any stupid petty immigration laws. I'll help you pack.
How many sets of names do you rubber stamp this with? "I would rather" must be on evey page 14 and counting.
you're hateful b/c you use the immigration debate as a foil to outlet your prejudice against minorities and people who 'aren't like you.'
Tell them Suzanne, these pople who rants doesn't even know all the facts, he has been paying taxes, he came when he was 12, accomplished something that none of them will ever will. He did confessed he did wrong. I bet some of these people who are complaining, their parents or grandparents were illegals, they're just not aware of it.
Like Mr. Vargas, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of our fellow humans who have "SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE." Does this mean this one nations accepts everyone, just as long as they fill out all the "legal paperwork?" Perhaps if Mr. Vargas took his talents back to his home country, he could help create a higher standard of living there. In the meantime, the USA can NOT be the employer to the whole planet, even for every TALENTED PERSON. WE HAVE A LIMITED, FINITE AMOUNT OF AIR, LAND & WATER HERE. Please Stop & Think. Thank you.
You don't seem to get around much, do you? Take a plane or car ride to see how much "Finite amount of land..." there is blah... blah... blach... Share and all will be swell!!!!
@cocoloco... share and all will be swell? I'm so glad you feel that way. Can you share some money with me? I would like half of all your paychecks. If you'd share, that would be swell. No? Oh, I see. You want other people to share what THEY have. It's funny how much the beggars want others to share. Go home and share what YOUR country has to offer, not MINE.