Define American

Last month I first heard of Jose Antonio Vargas, an undocumented immigrant who came to the U.S from the Philippines when he was 12. His story is moving and inspiring. Vargas produced and directed the CNN film "Documented". When I first saw him on TV it was hard to believe his predicament. He came across right away as a bright, articulate, sincere and responsible young man with a lot of potential --potential for not just himself but the United States as well.

He may not look like an undocumented person but he speaks on behalf of all the undocumented. In an interview with CNN entitle, "What it's like to be Undocumented" Vargas asks,  "What do you want to do with me?" What do you want to do with us? How do you define American?" On behalf of 11 million undocumented immigrants like me -- many of us Americans in all but papers -- I asked those questions to the Senate Judiciary Committee in February 2013, nearly two years after I publicly outed myself as an undocumented immigrant in The New York Times Magazine."

In July he posted a tweet showing his passport from the Philippines and his pocket copy of the US Constitutions as the only security identification he has. He considers himself one of the most privileged undocumented people. Vargas unselfishly traveled to Texas earlier in the summer to visit those who had recently crossed the border. Today he a Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist and uses his influence to raise awareness of the plight of undocumented immigrants in the US. In the earlier mentioned interview, speaking of Vargas' documentary, the CNN host rightly validates his contribution to America in concluding, "It is an American Story!" Below is a 5min video of Vargas' story.