Immigration law may be confusing to some people, but that did not stop over 100,000 people from joining a recent immigration drive aimed at leaders in Washington D.C. The drive was founded by Pulitzer prize-winner Jose Antonio Vargas. Under current immigration law, Vargas (a Filipino) is considered an illegal immigrant.
Vargas (who also wrote for the Washington Post) published an article for The New York Times confessing that he is, in fact, an illegal immigrant. He went on to say that he has been keeping this secret for almost twenty years. Vargas is 30 years old.
The purpose behind the drive, he said, was to help increase awareness of the Dream Act. This bill would provide certain young immigrant students an avenue toward U.S. citizenship once they meet a set of requirements. The bill is under considerable debate in the U.S. Congress, and its passage is not at all certain.
The immigration drive was held nationwide with many participants walking the streets of Washington, D.C. Many of those involved in the drive were undocumented workers who wished to show support for the Dream Act, as well as other immigration law issues. The total number of marchers is not known, but estimates are in the 100,000 plus range.
Because immigration law is so complex, many undocumented residents who are in the U.S. “illegally” find themselves in need of reliable, experienced legal help. Working with a qualified immigration attorney is often the best step for people faced with immigrant rights issues. Regardless of citizenship status, U.S. residents have rights and an immigration attorney may be able to help protect those rights in the pursuit of rightly deserved, fair treatment.
Source: The Inquirer Global Nation, “100,000 Americans join Vargas’ immigration drive,” Sept. 17, 2011