Jose Antonio Vargas: Students Protected His Secret

Mountain View, CA Patch:

When Jose Antonio Vargas told the Oracle editorial staff his immigration status, silence fell upon the room.

Read the whole story: Mountain View, CA Patch

Comments

[kelleyajones]

11:18 PM on 07/04/2011

Beautiful and powerful story. Reading these comments I'm afraid for Jose Antonio Vargas and the price Americans will ask him to pay for his courage.

[gunrunner99]

09:23 AM on 06/30/2011

Excuse me,Phillipines,not Mexico,my bad.

[Pod-gers]

11:40 AM on 06/24/2011

People want to come to the US for a better life. We Americans support a liberal immigration policy. We now have immigrants from all countries, no more Chinese Exclusion Act.

However, immigrating to the US has a proceedure. Some people do not want to follow the proceedures. They don't want to stand in line, don't want to take their turn. They want to get what they want, and they do not care about the rights of others.

You would be shocked, even appalled, at the opinions held by illegals, artistically referred to as "undocumented."

Sorry, in my opinion the first thing I want to see in an immigrant to the US is respect for our laws and the rights of others.

[Texas rebel]

10:53 AM on 06/24/2011

Poor Guy, I hope he adjusts well to life in the Phillipines.

[shirlyujest]

10:28 AM on 06/24/2011

I'm betwixt and between on this one.  Our young people need heroes from more places than sports and Vargas does seem to be somewhat heroic, fighting for what he perceives as correct, searching out truth.  Now, here he is revealing a hugely dangerous personal truth and trusting young people with it.  I can see where some would perceive this as brave and perhaps it is.

If we are going to buck the system it is probably best to do so when we are young and have the courage of our convictions.  That is how change often is brought about.  American has been built and has thrived on the talents and abilities of peoples from all over the globe. That we are in such a fence building mode right now may ultimately prove our doom.  I guess I've talked myself into siding with the students.

[naelli222]

10:22 AM on 06/24/2011

People need to get past the "he contributed a lot to society, so he should stay." This is very discriminatory. Accepting someone to be an American because they are skillful and smart isn't grounds on accepting someone in America. He is breaking the law, plain and simple. He can be a rocket scientist, but who cares. He is a criminal by not only working here illegally, but also using a fake passport and doctoring a SS card. He should get no ones sympathy. Hp is a disgrace for helping him get sympathy for his criminal acts.

[tamazul]

09:36 AM on 06/24/2011

Let's see what the xenophobe, and fellow Filipino, Michelle Malkin has to say about him. Or does she "bash" only illegals that happen to be Latino?

[Arrech]

09:43 AM on 06/24/2011

She's an anchor baby herself.

[Statusnaturae]

09:21 AM on 06/24/2011

Mr. Vargas is smarter and more talented than 99% of the birther/bagger/kkk crowd.

[naelli222]

10:15 AM on 06/24/2011

So, a lot of criminals probably really smart and talented also. Your point? Just b/c they are smart and talented don't mean they can get a pass on using a false passport and tampering with SS card and working illegally.

[gunrunner99]

09:20 AM on 06/30/2011

So its ok for you if people disrespect America and break her laws? If you admire him that much,go to Mexico and take him with you,apparently they need his brain.

[lqw]

09:11 AM on 06/24/2011

Us immigration law................."
"Any person who . . . encourages or induces an alien to . . . reside . . . knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such . . . residence is . . . in violation of law, shall be punished as provided . . . for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs . . . fined under title 18 . . . imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."
Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):
A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:

* assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or
* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or
* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

[cheesewizz]

10:53 PM on 06/24/2011

You are the biggest deuche ever hope your kids get ran over by a redneck in a chevy.

[Donns]

07:40 AM on 06/24/2011

So what happens now, does he get sent to Arizona and tried for starting all those fires?

[brownfrown]

08:03 AM on 06/24/2011

Good one..

[gunrunner99]

09:28 AM on 06/30/2011

He is breaking the law right where he is,they dont need an excuse to put him in jail,but,that wont happen.

[Johnny Jameson]

07:37 AM on 06/24/2011

Is he still here in the U.S.?

[cabinetmaker]

06:09 AM on 06/24/2011

every company he ever worked for should be fined $10K for hiring an illegal alien

[lqw]

09:12 AM on 06/24/2011

He used fake documents to obtain the jobs,

[Noel Alumit]

03:46 AM on 06/24/2011

We allow immigrants with unique skills--say, have the ability to fix the engine of an old porsche--to stay in this country. I think being a pulitzer level writer counts as a unique skill. Thank you, Mr. Vargas, for your skillful reportage on AIDS and the Virginia Tech shootings. You'd done more to inform us as a nation than the trolls who want to send you back to the Philippines.

[cabinetmaker]

06:11 AM on 06/24/2011

he should be deported and allowed to apply just like all the others
he should not be penalized for what his mother did and be forced to wait to apply

[Statusnaturae]

09:22 AM on 06/24/2011

You mean like cubans?

[Rasebiho]

09:35 AM on 06/24/2011

I have several friends with H-1 visas. Not one of them got their visa in the manner you're suggesting.

[frank day]

02:19 AM on 06/24/2011

Why put young students in that position?

He was making them accomplices to his crime.

This guy has some mental issues.

[itsgroovygranny]

02:25 AM on 06/24/2011

frank day...we meet again.

My first thought was the same. I was very surprised to learn that he involved these young students in his lies. He did make them accomplices. And, other adults who knew he did this allowed it to happen. Plus, these young students who were/are so in awe of him kept this "secret" with pride.

The article about it is all over the internet, and I haven't seen anyone else express what you and I have stated here. I guess I should add...yet.

[lqw]

09:14 AM on 06/24/2011

Pride of breaking the law ?  They are accomplices for helping him.

[Soule23]

02:01 AM on 06/24/2011

I'm sure he's contributed more than you have. Perhaps we should send you back whence you came, though your mother might have some complaints about that.

[frank day]

02:19 AM on 06/24/2011

He accomplished nothing. His gains are ill-gotten.