“Outlaw: My Life in America as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas, conveys a story of being an unwanted immigrant. Vargas was sent away from the Philippines by his mother hoping that he will create a better life. While he knew it was possible, he struggled with fear and anxiety. Many Americans refer to words as, “illegal alien” and “undocumented immigrants” with the same connotation; The migration of people into a country in violation of the immigration law. When I hear the word “illegal alien”, I automatically think of a negative connotation. Identifying someone as illegal and an alien is wrong. Illegal alien means that someone has invaded our country and has done something terribly wrong. While, “Undocumented immigrant” is a proper way of referring to someone who has migrated to another country that does not have the proper documents in order to identify as a citizen. Someone like Vargas should not be labeled as an “illegal alien”. Vargas has not done anything harmful to be labeled as illegal. In other words, he should be identified the proper way, an “undocumented immigrant”. Vargas mentions, “This was devastating. What good was college if I couldn’t help pursue the career I wanted?” Vargas comes here to create a better life, although, they don’t give him the opportunity to pursue his dreams. Vargas thought that if he worked enough and if he achieved enough, he would be rewarded with a citizenship. However, Vargas was unaware of how American citizenships work. He goes on explaining that Americans tend to have a certain attitude towards undocumented immigrants. Vargas mentions, “We’re not always who you think we are. Some pick your strawberries or care for your children. Some are in high school or college.” Immigrants come here to do the jobs other Americans don’t want to do. They do construction, dishwashing, baby-sitters, farming etc. Undocumented immigrants come here to create a better life, to pursue their dreams—just how some of our family members did. For this, they do not deserve to be labeled as an “illegal alien”, instead an “Undocumented immigrant.”

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