There is no such thing as “undocumented.” They are illegal aliens illegally in the country who should be deported. Problem solved.
8
Many people from all over the world are trying to reach out for the American dream, go through legal pathways to achieve it and either fail or have to wait. Why should we be sympathetic to the individuals mentioned in the article who bypass the law and now feel diminished by their illegal status?
14
Mr. Vargas seems to thrive on the attention he gets as a professional victim. While I don't think people in the US illegally are necessarily bad people, they are not victims in the way that people who are discriminated due to gender, race, and sexual orientation are. In fact, they aren't demanding equality- like people who fight against, racism, sexism, and homophobia are- they are fighting to be allowed to circumvent our very reasonable immigration law. Claiming to be a victim for having to follow the same law as everyone else is nervy and obnoxious, and yes, entitled and privileged.
US immigration law in no more unfair than the immigration laws in Hispanic countries.
If Mr. Vargas and co had been working all these decades to propose a reasonable and fair way to deal with illegal immigration that took into consideration what is best for America, not only the illegal immigrants, they probably would have gotten it. But they were unrelenting and instead used racial guilt, the power of the Hispanic lobby, and progressive allies to try and beat this country into submission and it didn't work. They are kind of like Israel First-ers. And they are shocked that their delusions of martyrdom and persecution aren't greeted warmly by most of America. Their civil rights aren't being violated because they have to follow the same immigration law as everyone else. Their smugness is unwarranted and offputting.
16
This comments section is undoubtedly going to become a massive repository of readers expressing their support for the young people profiled in this article, and the requisite condemnation for Trump and his administration.
What I hope is not forgotten in this discussion though, is that Trump attempted to reach a compromise on immigration that would have created a genuine path to citizenship for undocumented young people who were brought to the US as children. In fact, many of the people who are referred to as Trump's "base" were angry at him for what they felt was too generous a proposal.
So why do these people remain undocumented and not on a path to citizenship? Why was Trump's offer rejected by the vast majority of legislators in the Democratic party?
5
@Middleman MD Democrats offered a simple bill protecting DACA dreamers and offering them a path to citizenship. The bill did nothing else. Trump and the GOP demanded funding for their wall, throttling immigration and a myriad of other capitulations. That is taking the dreamers hostage.
A "compromise" is when two parties accede to some demands in exchange for others. Trump got to cancel DACA. A compromise would have protected current dreamers in exchange for preventing future dreamers. Instead, he said I will deport them unless Democrats give what I want. He might as well have been a bank robber holding the customers hostage. Threats are not compromises. The bottom-line is he rejected a bill to protect the dreamers so he could fish for benefits.
7
"VARGAS In the undocumented community, we don’t talk about depression. I juggle a lot of things, and that’s how I deal with my depression."
Before you buy this hoo-haw about Jose Antonio Vargas having "depression", I encourage folks to google his website and read the gassy, self-congratulatory autobiography he posted in the About section. He ain't depressed. He is actually an entrepreneur whose business is being a professional illegal immigrant and profiting from his undocumented status. America hasn't victimized him. Instead, America is the place where he can peddle his hokum and get rich and famous while doing so. Vargas understands that better than anybody. Don't be fooled.
16
If someone is an illegal immigrant (please let’s stop trying to be politically correct by calling them “undocumented”), they should leave the US, and then apply to come back legally.
Why are there never stories about how people living in Africa want to get the opportunity to come and live in America??! Instead of living in Africa on $2/day they could make $7/hour. I say this as a child of immigrants that came to this country legally. We need to start questioning our values when we allow for people to come here illegally, when there are tens of millions of immigrants that go through the long process to come to America as legal immigrants.
12
@Shirley Chen You seem to say poor Africans are somehow more deserving, but many "illegal immigrants" are fleeing violence, poverty, corruption and abuse just as your supposed Africans. They are equally deserving of your sympathy, and Trump has also significantly throttled legal immigration. Your needy Africans would also end up as illegal immigrants should they leave for a better life.
6
Why do foreign nationals believe that they’re entitled to cross our borders illegally and park themselves permanently on American soil as if our national sovereignty and laws don’t apply to them....and then demand sympathy for their plight?
Can’t work it out....
14
@Shenoa
Why did the whites believe they were entitled to come and take the land from the natives and create so much destruction and mass murder? Why did the MILLIONS of European people flee their country of origin during the Gilded Age? It’s really not that hard to work out pal :). During the Gilded Age many people had immigrated from European countries in search of better opportunities with labor and fleeing the famines and some may say bad living conditions they were in? Did you forget that this country is founded on immigrants? Many of these immigrants coming in today are much like “older immigrants” coming in search of new opportunities and trying their best to flee injustices from their country. Also don’t come at me with that “come legally” stuff. It’s not available for all people to spend money they barely make throughout the day to apply for a visa and hope and pray.
10
Tired of people who are hear illegally being glamorized.
14
there seems to be an endless number of reasons to hate trump, sessions, etc. (give me you tired, huddled masses).
"3 Writers on the Emotional Toll of Being Undocumented"
Then go back home where you are documented.
16