Denver Seminary

As I was sitting in a plane on Saturday morning, on the way to Guatemala, that country I love so much and that is so embedded in my soul, I read “Not Legal, Not Leaving” by José Antonio Vargas in the June 25, 2012 issue of Time. He is a Pulitzer Prize winning author, who publically came out last year as an undocumented immigrant.

His is a fascinating story. The son of a Filipino mother, he was sent to live in the US with his grandparents when he was 12. He did not find out until he was 16 that he was not legal. His recounting of his life and the ambiguities and tensions of his status make for an informative read. The article exposes some of the many misconceptions that many have of the immigration process, and it also provides a helpful chart about possible avenues for acquiring legal status. Things are much more complicated then most can imagine!!

Apparently, thousands of undocumented youth, those who could qualify for the DREAM Act are stepping forward and letting their peers and friends know that they are here and that this is the country they call their own, irrespective of their standing before the immigration authorities. Some readers may be put off by the fact that Vargas is a gay man, but what he has to say about the contradictions of this country’s immigration system is spot on.

Take the time to read this piece. It is well worth it.