José Antonio Vargas, born on February 3, 1981, in Antipolo, Philippines, is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and immigration rights activist best known for his public disclosure of his undocumented status. Vargas moved to the United States at the age of 12 with a visa that was later expired, and for years, he lived as an undocumented immigrant. He eventually became a successful journalist, working for major news outlets such as The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, and The New York Times, where he won a Pulitzer Prize as part of a team that covered the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. However, in 2011, Vargas made the bold decision to publicly reveal his status as an undocumented immigrant in an essay published in The New York Times Magazine, sparking a national conversation about immigration reform and the personal stories of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
Following his public coming out as undocumented, Vargas has become one of the leading voices in the fight for immigrant rights. He founded the organization Define American in 2011 to challenge stereotypes about immigrants and to create a more inclusive national dialogue about immigration reform. As a documentary filmmaker, Vargas directed Documented (2013), a film about his own journey as an undocumented immigrant and his efforts to navigate life in America. Through his activism, writing, and filmmaking, Vargas has brought attention to the experiences of immigrants, advocating for comprehensive immigration reform, greater representation of immigrant communities, and a more compassionate approach to U.S. immigration policy. His courage and dedication continue to inspire individuals across the country to speak out and stand up for immigrant rights.
