Jose Antonio Vargas is a multifaceted individual with a remarkable career spanning journalism, filmmaking, and immigration rights activism. Born on February 3, 1981, in the Philippines, he moved to the United States at the age of twelve and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting in 2008 for his work with The Washington Post on the Virginia Tech shooting.
Vargas' professional journey has taken him to various esteemed publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, the Philadelphia Daily News, and The Huffington Post. In 2013, he wrote, produced, and directed the autobiographical film Documented, which CNN Films broadcast in June 2014.
In a groundbreaking June 2011 essay in The New York Times Magazine, Vargas revealed his status as an undocumented immigrant, aiming to spark a national conversation about the U.S. immigration system and advocate for the DREAM Act. This bold move led to a significant shift in the Obama administration's stance on deportation policy, with the announcement of a halt to deportations for undocumented immigrants under the age of 30 who would be eligible for the DREAM Act.
As the founder of Define American, a nonprofit organization dedicated to redefining the criteria for determining American identity, Vargas has become a prominent voice in the immigration debate. He has boldly stated, "I am an American. I just don't have the right papers."
In September 2018, Vargas published his memoir, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, with Dey Street. This deeply personal work offers a poignant reflection on his experiences as an undocumented immigrant and his quest for a sense of belonging.
In July 2022, Vargas was appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees by Governor Gavin Newsom, further solidifying his impact as a leader and advocate for social justice.
