Undocumented jose antonio vargas bio

Activist and author Jose Antonio Vargas explored his journey as an undocumented immigrant from the Philippines and how he’s used his identity to advocate for immigration rights throughout America in a talk Thursday night at Swift Hall. 

Vargas was invited by Northwestern’s Kaibigan, Asian Pacific American Coalition, Rainbow Alliance, and the Undergraduate Radio, Television and Film Students Association in a fall speaker collaboration.

Early attendees of the event received copies of Vargas’ memoir, “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen.”

SESP junior and APAC co-President Hamin You said as a first generation and low-income student at a private institution, he understands the importance of holding speaker events that appeal to the immigrant community.

“I feel like the immigrant story — the undocumented immigrant story — ties into a lot of our own identities,” You said.

“Although my parents did get their citiz