Jose Vargas Arrested for Lack of Drivers License

Vargas, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who outed himself as an illegally present immigrant, was arrested this past week in Minnesota for driving without a drivers license. And ICE has decided to be consistent in applying the new prosecutorial discretion policy and has decided not to detain the writer. And we're reminded again of the dysfunction of our system. Vargas came to the US as a child. He has become one of the most talented journalists we have in this country. And yet the only path in place is to keep him in a limbo status where he is always on the verge of being deported and not able to legally earn a living.

Comments

[Legal and no longer waiting]

A hungly child shall not get a bite of bread if no valid and verifiable social security card is presented. That's Jack's heaven.

[Another Voice]

"Indeed. Because foreign nationals know that once you are here the U.S. does not check when you get housing, enroll in school, etc. The employment verification is weak (or you can just work for yourself). If Vargas' mother knew that his immigration status would not allow him to enroll in school, she most likely would have chosen not to abandon him. That is what a functional system does--deter law violation."

Indeed Jack you finally admit that you would choose turning the US into a police state in order to accomplish your restrictionist agenda!! Something would sound funny when people sign the national anthem and get to that part of " the land of the free" it just would not ring true anymore......

[Legal and no longer waiting]

Jack, yet, his contributions to this country are much, much greater than yours.

[Jack]

"And we're reminded again of the dysfunction of our system."

Indeed. Because foreign nationals know that once you are here the U.S. does not check when you get housing, enroll in school, etc. The employment verification is weak (or you can just work for yourself). If Vargas' mother knew that his immigration status would not allow him to enroll in school, she most likely would have chosen not to abandon him. That is what a functional system does--deter law violation.

We do the opposite and now the Obama administration has made the law even more of a joke by announcing that it will not be enforced except in particular circumstances--which they then delineated. Now THAT'S dysfunctional--giving a road map to those interested in or already violating your law so that they know how to avoid being held accountable. It's like the IRS announcing that no one with an income below a certain amount will ever be audited or allowed to be prosecuted for tax fraud. The Obama administration invites law violation with its detailed memos.

[Tobias]

What can of example Mr. Vargas is going to project to the cause of the dreamers if this individual is irresponsibly wearing headphones while driving and worst of all, carrying a cancelled drivers license? Couldn't he ask someone else to drive for him or ride a bicycle to his intended destination?