Jose Antonio Vargas, an undocumented journalist and activist, was detained by U.S. Border Patrol in McAllen, Texas on Tuesday after trying to board a plane to Los Angeles, Calif., according to United We Dream statement.
Vargas traveled to the border on Thursday to interview undocumented immigrants who had fled Central America. When he got to the border town of McAllen, he realized he would need to pass through a Border Patrol station in order to leave.
Vargas knew he could fly out of the local airport with his Philippines-issued passport, but he also knew there would be a Border Patrol presence at the airport.
“I’m going to fly out of here, I haven’t decided exactly when, but it’s going to be a test since the border patrol is at the airport,” he told the Huffington Post on Saturday.
He decided to attempt to leave Tuesday morning, unsure of what would happen.
About to go thru security at McAllen Airport. I don’t know what’s going to happen. For updates follow @DefineAmerican & @MAC_UTPA
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) July 15, 2014
The only IDs I have for security: Philippine passport and my pocketbook US Constitution @DefineAmerican & @MAC_UTPA pic.twitter.com/IFH0Vb4oX7
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) July 15, 2014
Cristina Jimenez, managing director of United We Dream on Tuesday called for Border Patrol to release Vargas.
“Once again, the Border Patrol has proven to be a rogue agency after arresting Jose Antonio, a low-priority case for detention and deportation,” he said in a statement.
Deport him. He is a defiant, clear lawbreaker. What if he was a bank robber or a tax cheat, announcing publicly that he was breaking the law? We would arrest that person. This guy should be arrested and deported, immediately.
Did the guy call enough attention to himself? He’s been writing op-ed’s, tweeing, emailing, instagraming, you name it. If I wanted to “slip by” border control, the last thing I would do is announce it.
I guess he wanted to take a stand. I guess he will be standing, but somewhere in Michoacan. Oops.
It’s tough not to see this as political payback.
Robbing banks, not being issued a piece of paper by the government…pretty much the same thing.