Jose Antonio Vargas

“I remember the first article I ever wrote, and I saw my name in the paper, and I already knew I was undocumented, and I was thinking: 'How can they now say I don't exist?'”

“Laws are getting passed in states like Alabama that basically would punish American citizens who are 'harboring' people. Since the federal government hasn't been able to muster or to get comprehensive immigration reform passed, states are taking it upon themselves to police and enforce laws.”

“On the surface, I've created a good life. I've lived the American dream. But I am still an undocumented immigrant.”

“I don't think there's any other issue out there that young people are more passionate, and more ahead in, than global warming.”

“The Internet is changing the way we think of our relationship with government; it has the potential to bring to life what Abraham Lincoln said about the presidency being an instrument of the people.”

“It's not my job to worry about how Left, Right will react to something. My job is, am I creating something that connects people? That's my job.”

“The fact of the matter is, this country is not going to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants. What are we supposed to do with them? What are we supposed to do with these kids?”

“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.”

“I am not a lobbyist. I am not a political activist. I am not a leader, as far as I'm concerned.”

“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?'”

“I guess, as a reporter, I always thought that my biggest strength was that I could get anybody to talk to me. I wasn't the best writer, but I could get people to talk to me.”

“My being gay is not a social issue; it's a fact. It's not something to be debated. It's a reality.”

“You know, I'm one of millions of undocumented people in this country who are living kind of under the shadows. And in many ways, coming out, it was my way of - at the end of the day, I think we have to tell the truth about this immigration system. And because of that, I had to tell the truth about myself.”

“I think everybody could agree that our immigration system is broken. We have not told the truth about it.”

“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.”

“I think everyone deserves dignity.”

“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.”

“I can't marry my way into citizenship like straight people can. I can get married in the state of New York where I live, but because of the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal government, which hands out visas, won't recognize my marriage.”

“You can call me whatever you want to call me, but I am an American. No one can take that away from me. No, no one can.”

“I'm sure the president doesn't enjoy being called deporter-in-chief.”