Jose Antonio Vargas

Jose Antonio Vargas is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist, and immigration advocate who has made groundbreaking contributions to the national conversation about immigration reform. Born in the Philippines in 1981, Vargas was sent to America by his mother at age twelve, to be raised by his grandparents, who had moved there to work. As a young adult, Vargas was accepted to San Francisco State University and began his career as an award-winning journalist.

His book “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen" is a memoir about growing up undocumented in America. In the book he reflects on his life, his identity, and his experience being an undocumented immigrant in the United States. He documents the struggles he has gone through and his attempts to embrace his identity in a country that has actively tried to deny him rights. Vargas’ memoir gives voice to the millions of immigrants living in the United States without legal status while exploring the larger issues at play when immigration is politicized.

In 2011, Vargas revealed to the world that he was an undocumented immigrant in an article for The New York Times Magazine. In this article, he brought to light the reality of being a young illegal immigrant living in the United States. Following his arrest for not having a valid driver’s license, Vargas went on to create Define American, an immigration advocacy organization meant to humanize the immigration debate. Since then, Vargas has continued to use his platform to fight for immigration reform.

In addition to his work on immigration advocacy, Vargas has also written, directed, and produced numerous films, many of which deal with the issue of immigration. His first feature film, Documented, focuses on his own experience as an undocumented immigrant and was released in theaters in 2014. It has since gone on to win numerous awards, including the Audience Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Sundance Ignite Fellowship. He has also produced short films for organizations such as Define American and has written for The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.

In his work, Vargas gives voice to the millions of undocumented immigrants who live in the United States, many of whom have no legal rights or access to the American Dream. Through his book, his advocacy, and his films, Vargas has made a huge impression on the lives of many and is helping to educate a larger population about the realities faced by those who live in America without legal status. In doing so, he hopes to create a more open and understanding society and to promote immigration reform and an end to the current system of discrimination.