“Jose Antonio Vargas is not only a taxpayer, small business owner and an upstanding American— he is a hero whose activism through Define American and his film ‘Documented’ has shed light on the plight of undocumented Americans in our country like never before. Jose was brought to this country as a child and for more than 20 years has lived here, worked here and built a life here as a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and now activist.

Jose is an American in every sense but one—his papers. He is an inspiration to the overwhelming majority of Americans who believe we need immigration reform now and lament that Congress has repeatedly dragged the immigration debate into endless sideshows. Jose has shown this country the true face of undocumented Americans. He is the definition of an American—hardworking, industrious and containing a boundless optimism that this country can always do better to live up to the ideals upon which we were founded.

I honor Jose for having courage and bravery to tell his story in the face of personal danger as he puts a face on the plight of thousands of undocumented Americans. I urge federal officials in Texas to use prosecutorial discretion and release Jose who has shown time and again that he is truly an American.

I stand with Jose.”

###