Behind the Cover: America's Undocumented Immigrants

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Jun 14, 2012 11:30 AM CUT

The June 25, 2012 cover of TIME Magazine. Gian Paul Lozza photographed journalist Jose Antonio Vargas and 35 other undocumented immigrants.

The June 25, 2012 cover of TIME Magazine. Gian Paul Lozza photographed journalist Jose Antonio Vargas and 35 other undocumented immigrants.

The June 25, 2012 cover of TIME Magazine. Gian Paul Lozza photographed journalist Jose Antonio Vargas and 35 other undocumented immigrants.©TIME-Photograph by Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Jun 14, 2012 11:30 AM CUT

In Spring 2010, four undocumented students trekked 1,500 miles from Miami to Washington to press passage of the Dream Act, a bill that would offer a path to permanent residency for immigrants who came to the country as minors and achieved certain educational accomplishments. Moved by their courage, Jose Antonio Vargas, a journalist who was part of the Washington Post’s Pulitzer Prize winning team for their coverage of the Virginia Tech shooting, revealed that he, too, was an undocumented immigrant in an essay published by the New York Times Magazine last June.

A year later, Vargas finds that immigration in America has seen little progress, as he writes in this week’s TIME cover story. On the cover, photographed by Gian Paul Lozza, Vargas stands before 35 other undocumented immigrants living across the country. “They’re living in America—but only in the shadows,” Lozza says. “They’re very much in the dark.”

It was important for TIME’s photo editors to show just how many cultures are represented by America’s undocumented immigrants. “They come from so many different countries, religions and backgrounds,” Lozza says. “We wanted to bring that diversity to the light. This is not just a problem for Latinos, as we hear about often, but for every culture from around the world.”

It was a poignant topic for Swiss-born Lozza. “For me it was fun to see how motivated the kids were, and how much they wanted to learn,” he says. “They have dreams of being teachers, doctors, lawyers—it was fascinating that they all want to do something for other people.”

Read more on Jose Antonio Vargas in this week’s issue of TIME.

Gian Paul Lozza is a photographer based in Zurich. See more of his work here.

The June 25, 2012 cover of TIME Magazine. Gian Paul Lozza photographed journalist Jose Antonio Vargas and 35 other undocumented immigrants.

The June 25, 2012 cover of TIME Magazine. Gian Paul Lozza photographed journalist Jose Antonio Vargas and 35 other undocumented immigrants. ©TIME-Photograph by Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Lucia Allain, Peru. "I'm an undocumented immigrant. I was born in Peru, and I want to be a journalist."

Lucia Allain, Peru. "I'm an undocumented immigrant. I was born in Peru, and I want to be a journalist." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Erika Andiola, Mexico. "I am an undocumented American from Mexico. I have my bachelor's degree in psychology and I know one day I will run for office in the state of Arizona."

Erika Andiola, Mexico. "I am an undocumented American from Mexico. I have my bachelor's degree in psychology and I know one day I will run for office in the state of Arizona." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Manuel Bartsch, Germany. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Germany and I want to be a member of Congress."

Manuel Bartsch, Germany. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Germany and I want to be a member of Congress." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Camila Bortolleto, Brazil. "I have a degree in biology and I want to work and make a difference."

Camila Bortolleto, Brazil. "I have a degree in biology and I want to work and make a difference." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Carolina Bortolleto, Brazil. "I have a degree in biology and I want to continue fighting for justice."

Carolina Bortolleto, Brazil. "I have a degree in biology and I want to continue fighting for justice." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Daniela Bravo, Chile. "I want to be an evolutionary anthropologist."

Daniela Bravo, Chile. "I want to be an evolutionary anthropologist." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Mandeep Chahal, India. "I want to be a doctor that serves underserved communities."

Mandeep Chahal, India. "I want to be a doctor that serves underserved communities." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Tania Chairez, Mexico. "I want to finish my degree at the Wharton School of Business and go on to become a lawyer."

Tania Chairez, Mexico. "I want to finish my degree at the Wharton School of Business and go on to become a lawyer." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Oscar Chico, Mexico. "I am an undocumented American from Mexico. I'm a student at Parsons and I want to be a tattoo artist and a poet."

Oscar Chico, Mexico. "I am an undocumented American from Mexico. I'm a student at Parsons and I want to be a tattoo artist and a poet." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Myung Keun Choi, Korea. "I am an undocumented immigrant from the Republic of Korea and I want to be the change that I want to see in the world."

Myung Keun Choi, Korea. "I am an undocumented immigrant from the Republic of Korea and I want to be the change that I want to see in the world." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Francisco Curiel, Mexico. "I am an undocumented American. I'm a college student and want to be a professional soccer player."

Francisco Curiel, Mexico. "I am an undocumented American. I'm a college student and want to be a professional soccer player." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Julieta Garibay, Mexico. "I have a bachelors and a masters in nursing but I would like to do public policy for my community."

Julieta Garibay, Mexico. "I have a bachelors and a masters in nursing but I would like to do public policy for my community." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Luis M. Gomez, Guatemala. "I want to become an architect."

Luis M. Gomez, Guatemala. "I want to become an architect." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Guadalupe Gracida, Mexico. "I am an undocumnted immigrant from Mexico and I want to be a psychologist."

Guadalupe Gracida, Mexico. "I am an undocumnted immigrant from Mexico and I want to be a psychologist." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Tatevik Keshishyan, Armenia. "I am an undocumented American from Armenia. I am a recent Boston University graduate and I want to help find the cure for cancer."

Tatevik Keshishyan, Armenia. "I am an undocumented American from Armenia. I am a recent Boston University graduate and I want to help find the cure for cancer." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Nataly Lopez, Ecuador. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador. I would like to open up my own business and contribute to the economy."

Nataly Lopez, Ecuador. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador. I would like to open up my own business and contribute to the economy." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Wilian Mejia, Honduras. "I want to be a dancer."

Wilian Mejia, Honduras. "I want to be a dancer." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Jong-Min, South Korea. "I want to be a great federal judge, even one that lands on the Supreme Court bench one day."

Jong-Min, South Korea. "I want to be a great federal judge, even one that lands on the Supreme Court bench one day." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Erika Wendoline Bret Miranda, Mexico. "I want to be a graphic designer."

Erika Wendoline Bret Miranda, Mexico. "I want to be a graphic designer." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Roy Naim, Israel. "I was born in Israel. I'm an orthodox Jew and I would love to be a motivational speaker."

Roy Naim, Israel. "I was born in Israel. I'm an orthodox Jew and I would love to be a motivational speaker." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Tolu Olubunmi, Nigeria. "I am an undocumented American. I plan to use my skills and expertise to defend the rights of all children to live a life worthy of praise."

Tolu Olubunmi, Nigeria. "I am an undocumented American. I plan to use my skills and expertise to defend the rights of all children to live a life worthy of praise." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Juan Pablo Orjuela, Colombia. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Colombia and I want to be an engineer."

Juan Pablo Orjuela, Colombia. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Colombia and I want to be an engineer." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Maria Gabriela Pacheco, Ecuador. "I'm an undocumented American from Ecuador, and my dream is to be able to be a musical therapist and create a school for people with Down's Syndrome, autism, and mental disabilities."

Maria Gabriela Pacheco, Ecuador. "I'm an undocumented American from Ecuador, and my dream is to be able to be a musical therapist and create a school for people with Down's Syndrome, autism, and mental disabilities." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Victor Palafox, Mexico. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Mexico City currently living in Brimingham, Alabama, and I want to be able to be a history teacher in order to share my love of history with other students."

Victor Palafox, Mexico. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Mexico City currently living in Brimingham, Alabama, and I want to be able to be a history teacher in order to share my love of history with other students." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Lorella Praeli, Peru. "I'm a community organizer. I want to teach, practice, and push the law to advance justice."

Lorella Praeli, Peru. "I'm a community organizer. I want to teach, practice, and push the law to advance justice." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Yenny Quispe, Peru. "I want to be a psychologist."

Yenny Quispe, Peru. "I want to be a psychologist." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Julio Salgado, Mexico. "I am an undocumented queer immigrant from Mexico and I want to use art to empower my community."

Julio Salgado, Mexico. "I am an undocumented queer immigrant from Mexico and I want to use art to empower my community." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Viviana Sanchez, Ecuador. "I would like to become an occupational therapist."

Viviana Sanchez, Ecuador. "I would like to become an occupational therapist." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Yonerky Santana, Dominican Republic. "I refuse to give up until I reach my dreams of becoming a naturopathic doctor."

Yonerky Santana, Dominican Republic. "I refuse to give up until I reach my dreams of becoming a naturopathic doctor." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Conrado Santos, Brazil. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Brazil and a community organizer, and I want to be a university professor."

Conrado Santos, Brazil. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Brazil and a community organizer, and I want to be a university professor." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Renata Borges Teodoro, Brazil. "I'm an undocumented American and I have raised over half a million dollars for a nonprofit in Boston and I want to keep fighting until I can see my mother again."

Renata Borges Teodoro, Brazil. "I'm an undocumented American and I have raised over half a million dollars for a nonprofit in Boston and I want to keep fighting until I can see my mother again." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Cesar Vargas, Mexico. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. I want to be a lawyer that serves my community."

Cesar Vargas, Mexico. "I'm an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. I want to be a lawyer that serves my community." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Isabel Vargas, Dominican Republic. "I will keep fighting until I become an immigration attorney."

Isabel Vargas, Dominican Republic. "I will keep fighting until I become an immigration attorney." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Melissa Garcia Velez, Colombia. "I want to continuing fighting for immigrant rights by becoming a social worker."

Melissa Garcia Velez, Colombia. "I want to continuing fighting for immigrant rights by becoming a social worker." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

Emilio Vicente, Guatemala. "I am an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. I want to be free so I can reach my full potential."

Emilio Vicente, Guatemala. "I am an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. I want to be free so I can reach my full potential." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME

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Jose Antonio Vargas, Philippines. "I am an undocumented American. I'm a journalist, and I want to see my mother, who I havent seen for almost 19 years."

Jose Antonio Vargas, Philippines. "I am an undocumented American. I'm a journalist, and I want to see my mother, who I havent seen for almost 19 years." Gian Paul Lozza for TIME