I traffic in empathy. I try to be vulnerable with people so they can be vulnerable back. I've always been searching for empathy in other people. It's when I feel most not alone.
Jose Antonio VargasRead
Of all the questions I get asked as an undocumented immigrant in the United States, there are two - asked in various permutations via email, social media or in person - that chill me to the bone: 'Why don't you just make yourself legal?' And: 'Why don't you get in the back of the line?'
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the struggles and misconceptions faced by undocumented immigrants regarding their legal status.
In this quote, Jose Antonio Vargas reflects on the experiences and challenges he faces as an undocumented immigrant in the United States. He points out the questions that people often ask him, which reveal a lack of understanding about the complexities of immigration and legal status. The chilling effect of these questions underscores the difficulties immigrants encounter when navigating the legal system and the assumptions made by society about their choices and circumstances.
Themes
ImmigrationUndocumentedLegal StatusStruggleMisconceptions
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about immigration reform.
More from Jose Antonio Vargas
All quotes →Citizenship to me is more than a piece of paper. Citizenship is also about character. I am an American. We're just waiting for our country to recognize it.
Jose Antonio VargasRead
Kathy Dewar, my high-school English teacher, introduced me to journalism. From the moment I wrote my first article for the student paper, I convinced myself that having my name in print - writing in English, interviewing Americans - validated my presence here.
Jose Antonio VargasRead
I'm more than willing to go to places and talk to people who believe that I am an illegal alien who deserves to be jailed. I want to look them in the eye and say, 'What makes you think I'm any different from you?' I think for our generation, immigration rights is a civil rights issue.
Jose Antonio VargasRead
I'm a gay, undocumented immigrant; I have to be optimistic.
Jose Antonio VargasRead
There were many factors as to why I decided to come out as being undocumented. One of them is because I look the way that I look; I don't look like the 'stereotypical undocumented' person.
Jose Antonio VargasRead
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