Home / Quotes / Quote by Jose Antonio Vargas

Quote by Jose Antonio Vargas

“There's always to me a universality - one of the things I learned early on as a journalist and a writer is that there's a universality in specifics. The more specific you get, the more universal it can be.”

Quote by Jose Antonio Vargas

Author

Jose Antonio Vargas

Jose Antonio Vargas is a renowned journalist and activist. Born on February 3, 1981, he is known for his work at The New York Times and The Washington Post. Vargas, who immigrated to the United States at a young age, has been a vocal advocate for immigration issues, inspiring many with his own story. more

You May Also Like

“The greatest gift that we have as human beings is our ability to empathize. That's why I think personal stories matter so much. That's someone's mom. That's someone's daughter. That's someone's son.”

Thinking Ability Son Mom Daughter

Author:Jose Antonio Vargas

“I got here when I was 12, I found out I was undocumented when I was 16, I became a journalist when I was 17, and all I ever did was write other stories to run away from myself.”

Writing Running Journalist Running Away

Author:Jose Antonio Vargas

“A broken immigration system means broken families means broken lives. That's what is at stake.”

Mean Broken Immigration

Author:Jose Antonio Vargas

“No amount of success - whatever that means, quote-unquote success - no amount of success replaces the reality of being separated from my family for this long.”

Mean Long Reality My Family

Author:Jose Antonio Vargas

“Immigration is by far the most controversial yet least understood issue in America. Frankly, given the way we're talking about immigration, given the emphasis, the overemphasis on border security, I would argue that we're not on the same page when we debate this issue. We're doing far too much debating and not enough conversing.”

Enough Security Arguing Debate Immigration Controversial

Author:Jose Antonio Vargas

“If I could, I'd go city by city, county by county, town by town, and talk to people to explain to them what immigration is really about - that this is not about me, this is not about us, this is not about us taking something from you. This is not about us being a threat to you. This is not about Democrat or Republican, and this is not really about border security. But in some ways our politics, and in many ways our politicians, have gotten in the way.”

People Security Politician Republican Threat Democrat Immigration County

Author:Jose Antonio Vargas

“Like other undocumented people in this country, I want a green card, and I want a driver's license, and I want a passport. What, to me, is the immigration bill? It's a green card, a driver's license, and a passport. That's what it's about to me, tangibly. That I could see my mom. That I could drive. Is there anything more American than driving? That I could get a green card and be able to - right now, I'm just like freelancing and working as an independent contractor. It's hilarious. I'm unhirable.”

People Country Mom Independent My Mom Driving Immigration Contractor

Author:Jose Antonio Vargas

“The immigration bill is going to pass. We're going to have a bill. It's going to get through the Senate. I think the fundamentals are there and the foundation is strong and the bill is going to happen. The House is going to be trickier, but I think it's going to happen there too.”

Thinking House Strong Immigration

Author:Jose Antonio Vargas

“Giving people like me a green card, a passport, and a driver's license? That's not going to be the end of the immigration conversation and debate in this country. It's like saying we elected Barack Obama president, so all of the racial problems are done. Right? I mean in some ways, the immigration conversation is just starting. Which is why when we started this campaign, we didn't call it Define Immigrant, we called it Define American. That's the question. That's what's at stake.”

People Giving Mean Country Done Problem President Debate Immigration Barack

Author:Jose Antonio Vargas

“The No. 1 question I get is, "Do you believe in an open-borders policy?" I'm like, wait a second: What does that really mean? When you say open-borders policy, do you mean that - this is like the US-Mexico border? We put up a sign that says "Keep Out," then 10 yards in we say, "Job Wanted." Is that what people mean by open borders? So that usually shuts people up. But that's the truth.”

People Believe Mean Waiting Policy Really Mean

Author:Jose Antonio Vargas