Jose Antonio Vargas

A new edition of my book, DEAR AMERICA, has been released, with an updated introduction and an epilogue I wrote earlier this year that focuses on two things: the change in my own immigration status; and the need to fight the mis and disinformation that defines so much of the immigrant narrative in the era of podcasts, TikTok and YouTube. I also recorded new audio for this edition: harpercollins.com/products/d…

#NewProfilePic “If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.” —Toni Morrison

Since this clip, once again, is making the rounds, here’s my full interview with @GeneforTexas. For the record: By "the oppressor," I do not mean White people as a whole. I mean the ideology of White supremacy: a worldview that centers White people and relegates everyone else to the periphery. ⬇️

Congratulations to the first Asian mayor of Los Angeles, Nithya Raman. Let’s contextualize her victory: As anti-Indian hate rises in America, its two largest cities, New York City and Los Angeles, home to the two largest Asian and immigrant populations in the country, will soon both be led by Asian immigrant mayors of Indian descent. Even though the media equates immigration with Latinos, Asians are currently the only major racial or ethnic group in America that is majority foreign-born (67%, compared to 34% for Latinos). Since 2010, Asians have outpaced Latinos among new arrivals to America. Asian immigrants are projected to become the country’s largest immigrant group by 2055. And over the past decade, Asians have composed the largest share of naturalized U.S. citizens. 65% of eligible Asian American voters are naturalized. Zohran Mamdani naturalized in 2018, Raman in 2003. The top country of origin for naturalizing Asians? India. #nithyaraman #losangeles #zohranmamdani #indian #asian

To my fellow Americans who claim to be White (often not acknowledging what kind of White): Latinos and Asians, like White people, are not are a monolith. Here in California, where people of Latin and Asian descent make up about 58 percent of the total population, people are Mexicans, Filipinos, Indians, Guatemalan, Chinese, Salvadorans, Koreans, et al

Cubans in Miami and Mexicans in Los Angeles can be as far apart as Italians in Philly and the Irish in Boston. If you wouldn’t confuse the Irish with Italians, why would you confuse Mexicans with Cubans?

No, not “illegal.” As for my address, you can check out vargas.mvwsd.org/

I am an immigrant who has called this country home for 33 years, yet I've never been able to vote because of my status. Thank you for voting. Thank you for honoring your privilege and right to vote. Thank you for proving that, in a democracy, elections can and should matter. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸