Jose Antonio Vargas, the acclaimed multi-media
journalist, has retained the Filipino
American Legal Defense and Education
Fund, Inc.(FALDEF) to help him in
his advocacy of the DREAM Act as well as to render legal assistance on his
quest and that of thousands of fellow DREAMers to pursue the American Dream.
(Jose Antonio Vargas' initial consultation with FALDEF President, Atty. JT Mallonga)
In the June 22 article posted on the New York Times entitled
My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant, Vargas tells his story which is
representative of all DREAMers. They
came to the US at a tender age, went to
high school and college, got gainfully employed but for the unfortunate
incident of not having the right immigration papers, find themselves
unable to fully integrate into American
society.
“Jose Antonio Vargas’ story and thousands of young people
like him has gone beyond legal, it has now become a moral issue,” comments J.T.
Mallonga, founder of FALDEF.
(Jose Antonio Vargas' initial consultation with FALDEF President, Atty. JT Mallonga)
The volunteer attorneys’ group, which also include several
Ateneo Aquila Legis fraternal brothers and NaFFAA members like Merit Salud,
Lito Pernia, former Queens prosecutor Steven
Siegel and Philippine Consul Lindy Lachica, renders free legal advice and
represents its clients up to the highest judicial and legislative tribunal,
advocating both questions of law and morals.
(Jose Antonio Vargas with FALDEF, his legal defense team)
Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize winner when he was a staff writer
in the Washington Post, has also announced the launching of “Define American”
campaign, an organization he co-founded dedicated to changing the conversation
about immigrants in America. The campaign will “build off Vargas’ story to
provide a platform for others to share their own backgrounds and will encourage
members of Congress and the Obama administration to prioritize immigration
reform.”
At the helm of this exposé, the National Federation of Filipino
American Associations (NaFFAA) is calling on the US Congress once again to pass
the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, commonly known as
the DREAM Act. Recently reintroduced in the US Senate last May 11, the measure
passed in the US House of Representatives last year, but failed in the US
Senate.
The bill would provide conditional permanent residency to
illegal alien students who graduate from US high schools, are of good moral
character, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years
before the bill’s enactment if they complete two years in the military or two
years at a four year institution of higher learning.
“Approximately 40 to 44 percent of the undocumented student
population in the Asian community are Filipino students,” says NaFFAA National
Chairman Eduardo Navarra. “They are among hundreds of committed activists whose
tireless energy and relentless advocacy made last year’s historic vote
possible. Their courage in speaking out and telling their stories made a big
difference in moving this legislation forward.”
Navarra commends Vargas for coming forward, own up to what
he has done and tell his own story. “As
a national organization, we completely support Jose’s personal advocacy to get
the DREAM Act passed,” adds Navarra. “I urge all Filipino Americans to play an
active role in getting Congress to act on this measure this year. Tens of thousands of students who came to the
US
without legal status would benefit from passage of this act.”
What happens next, is up to the federal government agencies
to act on Vargas’ petition, and for the US representatives to hear the plea
of similarly situated immigrants.