Pulitzer Prize Winner Is An Illegal Immigrant
Do you recognize the name Jose Antonio Vargas? He’s the Pulitzer Prize winning reporter who, last September, revealed that he was gay in an article he wrote about Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Evidently being one for candor, Vargas has now written an article admitting that he is an illegal immigrant. Vargas explained that as an illegal immigrant he:
…decided… that I could never give anyone reason to doubt I was an American. I convinced myself that if I worked enough, if I achieved enough, I would be rewarded with citizenship. I felt I could earn it. I’ve tried. Over the past 14 years, I’ve graduated from high school and college and built a career as a journalist, interviewing some of the most famous people in the country. On the surface, I’ve created a good life. I’ve lived the American dream. There are believed to be 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. We’re not always who you think we are. Some pick your strawberries or care for your children. Some are in high school or college. And some, it turns out, write news articles you might read. I grew up here. This is my home. Yet even though I think of myself as an American and consider America my country, my country doesn’t think of me as one of its own. [NYT]
Okay, so let’s see how this is going to play given that illegal immigration is such a hot perennial political topic. Here is one man’s earnest story about how he strove to become a genuine American and to live the American Dream, despite being “undocumented.” Are we really going to say he’s not one of us just because he doesn’t have the right papers? Please!
It’s a controversial topic, indeed. My feelings are – make it a lot easier to become legal but make the punishment a lot worse for illegals. It’s insulting to those who’ve gone through the proper legal channels. Like my stepfather who had a heckuva time getting residency after being married to my mom for 8 years (while they lived in England). He should’ve been automatic. But no. We’re a country founded by immigrants. I don’t want to keep them out. But I do want them to be legal.
Laws, in general, shouldn’t be on the books if we’re not going to enforce them.
If he is not paying taxes then he is not contributing to the benefits the country provides. He was able to get a free high school education here. If he has been paying taxes then I am fine with it other than that I think he should get kicked out of this country. No matter what he had done.
He’s been here at least 14 years. Does he have a SS#? Does he pay taxes? If not, he’s not a citizen, and he’s just another illegal immigrant catching a free ride. There are legal ways to come into this country. If he’s been trying to be an American, why hasn’t he applied for legal citizenship in the last 14 years? If he hasn’t applied, he’s just taking advantage of the system. The US has no desire to keep immigrants out of our country. We do, however, want everyone who comes into this country to do it legally. We have to follow the laws of our country, immigrants that come into our country should have to as well. Laws are in place for a reason. The government should export him. He’s admitted to being an illegal immigrant, he has put any company he has worked for in jeopardy. This is not being an American.
His statement was: “if I worked enough, if I achieved enough, I would be rewarded with citizenship. I felt I could earn it. I’ve tried.” Has he filed the correct papers? He’s convinced that it should just be given to him for his accomplishments and the amount of work that he’s done. The US shouldn’t reward people who blatently disobey the laws. Things in life are not just given to us, we have to work for everything we want. I don’t see any statements saying he has worked through the legal system to become a legal immigrant.
There’s not a single person who thinks that illegal immigrants should be punished or kept out because they have no talents or skills. The problem is that they are breaking the law. I got a ticket for driving 4 miles over the speed limit, and I don’t get out of that–why should someone else get out of paying for their crime?