The Human Face of Immigration

Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and immigration activist. He tells the story of coming to the U.S. as a child, unaware that he was entering without legal documents. His 31-year quest to obtain legal status led to a life of hiding until he “came out” in a New York Times article titled, “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant”. Vargas, who was born in the Philipines, talks about the prospect of seeing his mother for the first time since he was twelve and the cost to families of being separated by law and geography. His new project is called “Define American” and includes documentary films, short features and a podcast.

Then, we hear from Brenda Avila, programmer at the Watsonville Film Festival about how the protagonist of one of the films recently screened at the festival, Jeanette Vizguerra, was recently arrested by ICE at her job, and sent to a detention center in Aurora Colorado, most likely targeted due to her increased profile via the film. We also hear from the filmmaker, Theo Rigby, who created “Si Pudiera Quedarme” (If I Could Stay) about Jeannette Vizguerra and other asylum seekers who seek sanctuary in houses of worship.