“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.”

Filipino-born American journalist, filmmaker, and immigration rights activist

Jose Antonio Vargas is a Filipino-born American journalist, filmmaker, and immigration rights activist. Raised in the United States from age twelve, he became known for reporting and advocacy that connect immigration, identity, and public life. He was part of The Washington Post team that won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for coverage of the Virginia Tech shooting online and in print. He has also worked for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Philadelphia Daily News, and The Huffington Post. In 2013, he wrote, produced, and directed Documented, an autobiographical film that CNN Films broadcast in June 2014.