Immigration activist Vargas detained and released in Texas

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, an undocumented immigrant and prominent activist, was detained for several hours on Tuesday after being stopped at a security checkpoint at an airport in the border city of McAllen, Texas.

The U.S. Border Patrol said agents apprehended Vargas "after he stated that he was in the country illegally." He was later released on his own recognizance and provided with a notice to appear before an immigration judge.

He has called himself one of the most privileged undocumented immigrants in the United States, who hides in plain sight, pays his taxes, and, because of his notoriety, speaks on behalf of millions of immigrants in the country.

Is he getting the "Justin Bieber" treatment because he's famous? How is he paying taxes if he's undocumented and has no papers issued by any US authority?

Link

a reply to: DarkSecret

Everyone is technically supposed to pay income taxes.

Substantial Presence Test: You will also be considered a U.S. resident for tax purposes if you meet the substantial presence test for the calendar year. To meet this test, you must be physically present in the United States on at least:
31 days during the current year, and
183 days during the 3-year period that includes the current year and the 2 years immediately before that, counting:
All the days you were present in the current year, and
1/3 of the days you were present in the first year before the current year, and
1/6 of the days you were present in the second year before the current year.

www.irs.gov...

originally posted by: OrphanApology
a reply to: DarkSecret

Everyone is technically supposed to pay income taxes.

it was more of a rhetorical question but thanks for clarifying that with a source

a reply to: DarkSecret

He should release his tax information to see what he is paying.

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: DarkSecret

He should release his tax information to see what he is paying.

He should be deported and come in through the front door instead of the back.

originally posted by: Night Star

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: DarkSecret

He should release his tax information to see what he is paying.

He should be deported and come in through the front door instead of the back.

Rich people are not deported - only poor ones. Anyone who has money to spend is welcome in America. But yeah, Vargas was in the USA illegally for over 30 years - and he got famous by telling his own story (Undocumented).

Vargas left the Philippines in 1993 when he was 12 to join his grandparents in California. He only discovered he had a fake green card when he applied for a driver's license at age 16.

a reply to: soficrow

Rich people are not deported - only poor ones. Anyone who has money to spend is welcome in America. But yeah, Vargas was in the USA illegally for over 30 years - and he got famous by telling his own story (Undocumented).

Nothing he should be proud of. Nothing like encouraging even more illegals to come. Sheesh!

originally posted by: soficrow


Rich people are not deported - only poor ones. Anyone who has money to spend is welcome in America.

Do you think it might be possible that the "poor ones" are being deported from the US because the "rich ones" have no need to come to the US, legally or illegally, for work?

After reading the article, the following can be stated:

Ship him back home. Put his picture up where he is not allowed to come into the USA, and it will send a strong message, that states, no matter how big you become, if you are a citizen of the USA, then you have no rights, and will be deported. Course that is after all of his assets are frozen and the fines are removed, that way he is punished for his flagarent violations of the law. And as he states he pays taxes, the question is how? Does not one need a social security number or a tax payer id to pay taxes? Would it not come to light if he was using say stolen identity?

a reply to: Night Star

No doubt better to cater to rich Arabs like the Bin Ladens.

originally posted by: Xcathdra

originally posted by: soficrow


Rich people are not deported - only poor ones. Anyone who has money to spend is welcome in America.

Do you think it might be possible that the "poor ones" are being deported from the US because the "rich ones" have no need to come to the US, legally or illegally, for work?

You're right - the rich ones don't come to work, they come to profit - to buy land, businesses and under-the-table cheap labor - just like rich Americans.

a reply to: soficrow

Which is not linked into the claim you made and my response to it.

Mexicans, rich or poor, can cross the southern border and visit the US legally.

If you wish to make an argument about Mexico and poor please research how the Federal Mexican government is responsible for wages workers are paid. General Motors is a prime example - the Mexican government set the wages for the workers, not the company.

I know people love to blame the US for everything and what not. If they spent some time researching they may actually figure out why something is the way it is and realize some things are beyond the ability of the US Government.

originally posted by: soficrow
You're right - the rich ones don't come to work, they come to profit - to buy land, businesses and under-the-table cheap labor - just like rich Americans.

lots of land and assets are already owned by foreigners. from ports, to trans-oceanic fiber optic cables, to parks. they are literally buying this place from under our feet!

and this "journalist" exploited the system and gave himself even more notoriety with this little stunt.

a few years back there were demonstrations of thousands of illegals demanding citizenship and rights. in any other country on the planet these people would have been rounded up and deported! but if we as tax paying US citizens or legal residents speak up - especially if we're white - then we're racists or heartless.

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: soficrow

Which is not linked into the claim you made and my response to it.

I just stated a few facts - "Rich people are not deported - only poor ones. Anyone who has money to spend is welcome in America. But yeah, Vargas was in the USA illegally for over 30 years - and he got famous by telling his own story (Undocumented). "

If you wish to make an argument ...

So not interested in arguing. Just made a few comments. Sorry.

originally posted by: DarkSecret

originally posted by: soficrow
You're right - the rich ones don't come to work, they come to profit - to buy land, businesses and under-the-table cheap labor - just like rich Americans.

lots of land and assets are already owned by foreigners. from ports, to trans-oceanic fiber optic cables, to parks. they are literally buying this place from under our feet!

No kidding. Anyone who thinks the US is American doesn't read the financials.

and this "journalist" exploited the system and gave himself even more notoriety with this little stunt.

You mean the vaunted capitalist system, right?

....in any other country on the planet these people would have been rounded up and deported! but if we as tax paying US citizens or legal residents speak up - especially if we're white - then we're racists or heartless.

If you say so. ...I remember a song that told the story of how Mexican illegals were routinely smuggled in to California for the harvest, then busted and deported when payday came. The song lamented the crash of a small plane full of such deportees. ...So many stories, so many viewpoints.