Illegal Alien Testifies Before Congress, Says Don’t Call Me Illegal



Illegal Alien Testifies Before Congress, Says Don’t Call Me Illegal

Jose Antonio Vargas, an illegal immigrant and former reporter, scolded a congressional panel on Wednesday, saying that he should not be called illegal, and saying it is an insult to his family who brought him here,” the Washington Times reports.

“‘When you inaccurately call me illegal, you not only dehumanize me, you’re offending them,’ he said. ‘No human being is illegal.’
Mr. Vargas testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee alongside Chris Crane — a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and president of the ICE agents’ union — who is unable to arrest him under the administration’s new non-deportation policies.”

Rep. Lamar Smith – 5 reasons GOP Should Avoid Immigration Trap

“Before deciding what to do about immigration, Republicans should first decide what not to do. They should not buy in to the Obama/liberal Democrats’ plan to legalize every person who is in the country illegally. Republicans do need to make progress with Hispanic voters. But immigration is exactly the wrong subject to use to attract Hispanic support,” says Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) in an op-ed.

“Some argue that how Republicans talk about immigration scares away Hispanic voters. Regrettably, they are right. But the answer is to discuss immigration in a different way, not give amnesty to millions of people in the country illegally. Republicans should emphasize that America already admits 1 million legal immigrants every year, more than all other countries combined. That generosity should continue. Immigrants strengthen our nation, contribute to our economy and set a daily example for how to achieve the American dream.”

5 House Republicans at the Center of the Immigration Debate

“An immigration overhaul — the most significant plank in President Barack Obama’s agenda that could see congressional action — faces its most perilous hurdle in the House. Though many of the GOP’s power brokers in Washington, D.C., are on board, thinking that it could help Republicans make electoral inroads with Hispanic voters, the issue has proved volatile at the grass-roots level in the past,” says Roll Call.

Obama Tells Senators He Has His Own Bill Ready

“President Barack Obama told a group of Senate Democrats Wednesday that Congress must move forward with comprehensive immigration reform, or else he will propose his own legislation on the hot-button topic,” CNN reports.

“Obama met with Sens. Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer, Robert Menendez and Michael Bennet, the four Democrats in the bipartisan group of eight senators who introduced a framework for immigration reform last month. A bipartisan group of House members is also working in secret to craft immigration reform measures.”

As Expected, Amnesty Discussion Boosts Border Crossings

“During his State of the Union address last night, President Obama touted the lowest illegal border crossings in 40 years, but with amnesty looming and border enforcement most likely coming after citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants, law enforcement officials in Arizona are seeing an uptick in activity,” says Katie Pavlich at Townhall.

“We are seeing an uptick in bodies as of the last couple of weeks. We are starting to see large groups again in our AOR [Area of Responsibility]. The groups are up into the 20 to 40 range,” Pinal County Sheriff Department Lieutenant and SWAT team member Matthew Thomas tells Townhall.

About Author

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Dan is the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)'s President after joining the organization in 1982. He has testified more than 50 times before Congress, and been cited in the media as "America's best-known immigration reformer." Dan has appeared on virtually every significant TV and radio news/talk program in America and, in addition to being a contributing editor to ImmigrationReform.com, has contributed commentaries to a vast number of print media outlets.

16 Comments

  1. avatar

    Unlike most immigrants, though, Cubans don’t have to wait years for a visa, or sneak across the border illegally. Once they’re here, they’re fast-tracked to legal residency, with a clear path to citizenship.

  2. avatar

    Vargas logic is all SCREWED-UP….and his thinking is BACKWARDS along with his ILLEGAL parents.

    When immigrants fill out proper papers and wait their turn in their own country…..you are greatly respected and “WELCOME NEW AMERICAN”….I know you will not be a burden to society and display STUPID behavior like Jose Antonio Vargas.

  3. avatar

    The best way to stop this constant fight to keep out illegals, or deport them when they are found. Is E-verify to verify legal status. If they can’t get a job, they won’t stay here. Reagan started this mess when he legalized 6 million. They have been pouring in ever since. Then the plan is to have a bunch of anchor baby’s. In hopes the government will feel sorry for the children & not deport them. That’s another law that needs to be changed. At least one parent needs to be legal. Manufacturers aren’t much help. It’s irritating to be treat like a foreigner, & have to search for English on packages and instructions. California is already over 50% Hispanic, & Arizona is near that amount. I’m all for legal immigration. Both my great-grand parents came from Germany & Norway. They were well educated & contributed to society. They blended into American life by learning & speaking English. That is not the case with a large number of our un-welcomed guests. When they go public that are not legal, & demand the same rights as citizens. I have a a big problem with that. It doesn’t make me sympathetic to their cause, & never will.

  4. avatar

    Conversely, conservative and libertarian politicians and news organizations tend to refer to illegal aliens as “illegal aliens” which properly keeps the focus of the discussion on the fact that such individuals have BROKEN our laws and ARE therefore CRIMINALS to one degree or another, and that these individuals do not owe allegiance to our country.

    In fact, folks who like to use the term undocumented immigrant also tend to believe we should be spending U.S. TAXPAYERS FUNDS to provide illegal aliens (criminals) with health care, social security and in some cases in state tuition at our colleges and universities. They also tend to believe that illegal aliens should be able to obtain U.S. drivers’ licenses, open U.S. bank accounts, and be free from arrest and deportation by our police officers. WAKE UP, What part of ILLEGAL DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND??? You are here ILLEGALLY not undocumented., You are an ALIEN not from this country. Therefore YOU ARE AN ILLEGAL ALIEN. Can’t get any plainer then that.

  5. avatar

    Congressman Smith: The problem w/both parties is trying to get the hispanic vote. Be smart and and work to get the American vote and set an example to be the party that has the balls to be against illegal immigration! What is it you do not understand? BTW, no guest worker program for illegals! You guys are hopeless!

    • avatar

      bo is such a liar – he cannot logically reason his way out of a paper bag – worst pres in the history of this country! His immigration reform is to bring this country to its knees w/all of these 3rd world illegals! Read Michelle Malkin’s book “Culture of Corruption.” Then you will have an even better picture of him!

  6. avatar

    If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck…it generally is a duck! If you lie, steal, cheat, and obtain identity fraud you are not someone that should be congratulated on getting away with it! In this country we had rules and laws that citizens obey or land in jail. These ILLEGALS think that if they can get here (no matter how) they somehow deserve citizenship! They make a joke of our laws and think they are above complying to them! We can not just give amnesty to these self interest aliens!

    • avatar

      The trouble is, Kathy, since most come from countries south of the border, laws mean nothing to them. Think of Mexico with it corrupt government, drug gangs and the hands out for bribes to anyone they come in contact with. Laws mean little to them and they are often surprised when they are arrested for drunk driving or rape here. “Why that’s okay where I come from,” they say. Perhaps if we had anyone with a spine to announce to the world that we are no longer its dumping ground and that you’ll be severely punished if caught here illegally, would go a long way in stopping the invasion.

  7. avatar

    Vargas we are not calling you illegal , we are saying you are here illegally. Your parents making an illegal decision doesn’t not make us the culprits You make a line like everyone else does, to come here.

    Just like saying the devil made me do it. Or I need money so I am going to steal it.Just like the illegals with a contract from the Mexican Consulate to work here for three months on harvesting fruits and vegetables Ten after giving them a job say they are abusing making us do a job that others do not want to do. Instead these illegals stay here. instead of abiding with the contract. That is illegal action. If you don’t want to make a line, don’t come here.

  8. avatar

    Not illegal ?? REALLY ??
    Tell that to all the people who have broken the law and got caught serving time in jail & prison…are they “not illegal” because it dehumanizes them ?? our grandparents that came through Ellis Island and who molded this melting pot of America are proud… I dont care if Mexico has a crappy economy… every “barrio” they move into becomes a poverty, drug infested ( and GANGS who kill people)…nuff said. for an English speaking country now you have to press 1 on the phone cause they are too lazy to learn the language. Im Italian…if i went to live in Italy i would learn the language.nuff said

  9. avatar

    People who come to the front door and knock, and wait to be invited in are guests (legal immigrants). Those who sneak in by crawling through the back window are burglars (illegal immigrants). Guess who shouldn’t be allowed to stay.

  10. avatar
    Richard Caudill on

    If you don’t wan to be called ILLEGAL then get the hell out and come back leaglly. There is nothing that I owe you for breaking the laws of the United States of America.

    go home and come back as did my forefathers

    • avatar

      Please don’t encourage Vargas to “come back legally.” We don’t need people who have lied about their status and who don’t feel that they should even be called illegal. This person sat before a Congressional panel and dared them to do anything about him. Naturally, the cowards didn’t respond as they should. Someone with courage should have collared him, given him the bum’s rush out of the chamber,thrown his illegal rear in jail for awhile, then deported him along with his illegal parents. Might have given all illegals pause. Do make a federal case and let the millions of other illegals see what can be done with them if we ever get somebody with a backbone in the White House. When they took the oath to protect and defend, they evidently thought it meant to take care of those who sneak into our country.

  11. avatar

    Vargas explains that he was smuggled into the US as part of an elaborate document fraud operation. Isn’t this a crime? And isn’t there a penalty for it?