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Is America’s Immigration System Broken?

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    Define America co-founder Jose Antonio Vargas on efforts to find solutions to America’s illegal immigration policies.

  • Duration 6:07
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As Jose Antonio Vargas define America co-founder Pulitzer prizewinning journalist and -- this but obviously.

We've got that we've got props here.

Cover of time magazine.

The piece entitled we are America.

Just not legal.

Good to have here very -- himself in general the president say that.

And it's like the caped crusader there.

He didn't do anything on illegal immigration two years when he had the house the senate.

He doesn't do anything on the DREAM Act period.

Than he does something that can't be affected.

Implemented.

Upward probably three years by.

Five making and that public announcement last Friday you gotta be sorely disappointed -- yeah.

Actually have not.

I -- -- -- I mean because of the that there -- still illegal nobody -- documented yes I am but.

-- -- that they the president last week last Friday by the way that is.

That is the most.

Dramatic improvement in immigrant rights since 1986 won't Reagan signed the immigration or not and he's he's 1980s.

Just cotton.

But not 96.

96 was pretty that that was pretty good but in terms of the fact that not a lot more people than what he did Friday.

But but now to me I mean I had traveled around and thank you for plugging -- -- -- child on the country for the past year meeting countless.

Number of undocumented.

Americans will have your college -- -- we're gonna have to share stories yeah.

But we don't have time for you now.

Let's get to the issue of changing this this immigration system that you said is broke is -- -- we just put up on the chart.

What is this -- this nation -- you know what I'm just curious why isn't somebody knocking on the door in Germany.

Or the European Union knock on the door Mexico which by the way -- president thanked.

As as mr.

Obama bowed to public Colorado thanked him here we're doing what he did Friday so that he could have more of his people exit.

Mexico isn't that sad and strange to you.

While I mean by the way back to what you -- talking about you're absolutely right that America has had a tremendous history we welcoming.

Tune -- to do -- how we haven't answered yes we are.

We -- how it is now it has been.

And I think it always -- but right now we have twelve million you know -- the directive on -- -- -- we visited back community them over the age of thirty extra 31 ever.

So we -- in this country.

About twelve million undocumented people who -- to be able to come forward -- I think that's great only come forward because we got thirteen guest worker programs by which you can enter.

We have.

How many federal programs that -- applied to.

Or citizenship.

Well actually I have -- applied for you haven't applied because that's kind of an oversight -- your -- -- actually sorry does not want us last year in the -- in the New York Times I admitted.

To everything I had to do.

Simulation -- and I could you break -- but because of that.

I am disqualified for example from applying for elegant EB one Visa for example an extortion Google wants that was and a half million dollars and -- And I don't sprite and that's what take but -- but but again the fact that there is in the system for somebody like me and by the way let me be very clear about just.

I believe in Smart enforcement I believe that yes this country needs to protect its borders to the same time I believe that for somebody like me to come forward and say.

Tell me were to wait give me a process if the process -- times.

-- article are right now would wait want to.

-- Davis and every paper and we got illegal immigrants working under -- anyways yeah sorry -- you want to challenge might might lower.

What I'm saying usually the language you wish I will mine because you don't want.

The country you wanna be a citizen is a free country yes sir it is either right is -- chorus of -- and you don't without without an eruption.

Out which ones might turn right now okay go -- country hands illegal immigrants working.

And seeking work -- actually in a corner where there are no idea hardware store.

And I don't understand the problem here I don't you have an opportunity.

To become citizens don't know what.

Please give us please give us a process the Republicans in congress who have been in some ways obstructionists in this issue who don't remember who was 36 Republican senators who voted because of GMAC in 2010 part of some illegal immigrant this is why you're going -- you are trying to -- -- I'm just under the master.

But by the way mr.

dobbs -- democratic president who has a deliberate and on his camp biggest problem was wouldn't let him do -- -- -- -- excuse me.

He had a democratic patents for this is congress that the senate the 36 Republican senators in -- -- against civilian.

I'm -- yeah because I may not understand the math if he had a majority.

House and the house passages that you really don't wanna what you're -- arguing reality the fact is.

The -- yes get a majority in the senate on -- -- a majority in the house and didn't do a damn thing.

Why do you have is -- some partisan thing -- I mean that is doesn't I am not just goes back on the left and right in beyond left -- -- -- word of god oh no that's -- I am simply stating that you have -- -- -- the president didn't have control of the senate and the house for two years cut.

The president and he's been saying this that for him to do what he has to do.

He has to be able to work with the congress don't under staffs because it sounds like to me you're saying that you wanna talk to somebody who will save the hell with -- law.

Who wrote -- the -- and I -- consequences for your actions well what I want is for us to be able to come forward tell the truth about where we are on this issue.

And be able to come up with a solution Republican Democrats waiting working together that's what Marco Rubio was -- -- We have to remember that you -- -- movie -- didn't even mention governor Romney's name and governor Romney is the man who actually put forward a proposal to make.

Legal.

And to give citizenship.

To -- illegal immigrants in the united states military.

Without comment from rubio what is this they're so much ego and nonsense across purpose.

Interest at work here it's so I argue that it does have a lot of hours and an.