More than likely, you have seen his face on the evening news and heard about a New York Times article that he wrote - but how much do you really know about Jose Antonio Vargas, the well-respected journalist that decided to reveal his status as an illegal immigrant living in the United States? Well, with his NYT essay and his activist organization, Define American, Vargas is hoping that all people will be able to learn about his story and, through it, finally be able to put a face on the problems with immigration laws in the United States.
It has been three weeks since Vargas had his essay published in the New York Times, in which he detailed the struggles he had to face navigating the American journalist workforce, all while being ever fearful that his undocumented status would be his undoing. It's not only important to hear of and learn about his plight, but to keep a close eye on what followed next. And after three weeks of festering, there has been a storm of reaction to Vargas' essay - both good and bad.
But first, a look into the story of the man himself. 12 year old Philippine native Jose Vargas, in an attempt by his mother to provide him with a better life than his home country could, was sent to America to live with his grandparents. Throughout his earlier years, Vargas was unknowing of the truth behind his American citizenship status - until he tried to apply for an identification card at the DMV. It was there that he was told that his green card was fake - and that he should not show it to anyone ever again. Stricken by the truth revealed to him, Vargas a promise to himself that he would do everything he could to prove that he is, for all intents and purposes, truly American.
