Senior Exhibition

ISSUE NO. 1
EscapeVOL.1

What an Illegal
Mexican

Immigrant Really
Faces Coming to

America

WHAT DOES WASHINGTON SAY? - page 11

So Who's The

Author?

Me: Kylie Thomas! I am currently a senior student attending the
Sterling East Chesapeake Site. This magazine was published for
a senior exhibition project. You may be wondering why did I pick

this topic? This is why. I just recently moved to America in
February 2015; legally of course. But I often wondered why
people didn't come the legal way. I came from Canada but I knew
that there has been a concern about the mass amounts of
immigrants from mexico coming illegally, so I decided to study it!
It was very interesting! Read more to find out more about my

studies and what I found out!

Why is This
Really a Problem?

It  is a concern at the numbers coming from Mexico, 57% of the
total illegal immigrants in America are Mexican, as you can see in

the chart. They are spread all across the country. 

MY FINDINGS...

WHY DO THEY LEAVE MEXICO?

One of greatest push factors in Mexican­American
immigration is the housing that poor Mexican

families live it. They live in houses normally made
of plywood or tin. These shacks don’t have any of

the things that we would consider a necessity
when looking for a home in America such ­ as air

conditioning, running water, electricity or even
glass in the windows. These areas are called
“vecindades” they originated back in the 1900’s
when wealthy people relinquished their homes
and then converted them into rental homes for the
poor. About ten percent of all of the Mexico City
housing is in these areas. The structure is so poor
and weak that sometimes these houses are

washed away during the rainy seasons.

Living in such close proximity to each other
creates a noticeable difference in quality of life.
With these poor and unsanitary living conditions it
makes it easy for disease to spread. This is just
another factor to push Mexicans out of Mexico and
into America, where living conditions are much
cleaner and healthier, and good housing is much

easier to find.

RESEARCH

WHY DO THEY LEAVE MEXICO? continued...

A major pull factor for Mexicans  contrary to what most Americans
looking to America for a new start is think that they are coming to cause
the abundance of jobs it offers. In trouble and get money out of
Mexico almost all jobs are low paid, Americans for drugs. We don’t
making 49% of the population under understand what there day to day
the poverty line. Average hourly wage life really is like, and how terrifying
in Mexico is $4.15 USD an hour, and it must be to be surrounded by
those in agriculture live on even less crime all day every day.
than that. Comparatively, the
American the average hourly wage is There are many advantages in
around $21.33 USD per hour. America compared to Mexico,
Mexicans can’t afford food, water and even just the little things, like that
clothes which are all just basic fact that 99% of the American
necessities of life.   population can read and write,
whereas only 86.1% of the
Mexico has long been known for the Mexican population can. (Jackson)
staggeringly high crime rates within This would attract people to move
its major cities. Alex Jackson once to America so they can give their
stated that over the “Past five years, children the best education
47,500 people have been killed in possible. This also would give
crimes relating to drugs. Many them a greater job opportunity later
Mexicans will move out of fear for in their life, being able to read and
their lives and hope that America is a write two languages: Spanish and
more stable place to live, with lower English, which could be in higher
crime rates.”(Farkes) Mexicans are demand with the increase of
fleeing to America to escape these businesses going international.  
drug wars, and drug gangs that fill
their streets wherever  they go,

RESEARCH

HOW THEY GET TO AMERICA?

Illegal immigration has really become a business in Mexico since so
many people are willing to pay to get across the border. This is most
commonly known as ‘human smuggling.’ The most common way to get
across the border in with a group, under the direction of a ‘coyote’.

Coyotes are guides, who are paid by the immigrants to lead them
across the borders in safety. They know all the ins and outs of the
borders. They may know of corrupted border official, barren land that is
not patrolled, or other tricks that will allow them to cross the border
without being caught. These coyotes get a very large amount of money

for doing this, anywhere around five hundred to five thousand
depending on what method they choose to use. For example: $500 to
$1500 for crossing through a legal port, being a highly guarded, highly
trafficked border crossing; $1500 to $2000 by riding in a truck or in a

hidden compartment of a car; $2000 to $3000 when using fake or
altered documents; and $3000 to $5000 to be lead through by a
corrupted border official. Some human smugglers that use boats, or
avoid borders altogether charge even more, normally ranging from
$4000 to $4500. These prices are limited to just the Mexicans trying to
cross, but it doesn’t stop there, foreign nationals trying to enter the
states through the Mexican­ American border will pay around $35000

to $50000 to get into the U.S illegally.
The dangers of trying to cross are treacherous! Some people are so
desperate to get away from the crime to a safe country, they will do
anything, pay anything, and are willing to risk everything they have to
get across the border to America. Nothing is going to stop them! This
often requires crossing the Arizona desert or the Rio Grande, during
which journey many have died of dehydration on their way from the

immense heat, or have drowned trying to get across the river. 

crossing is
very

dangerous

RESEARCH

WHAT THEY FACE ONCE THEY GET TO

AMERICA?

One of the biggest objectives of Mexicans once they get
across the border is to find a job and either get their

earnings back to their family, or earn enough to bring their
family to America. Sometimes they are unable to see their
family for decades, because with the low wages that they
receive in America it often takes many years to earn and
save enough money to get their family to America. In other
cases they actually don’t want to get their family to America,
they just see it as a place to get money for their family, a
place where it is easier to get a job and support their family.
They do it entirely on the basis of sacrifice to make money

for their family back in Mexico. 
Most Mexicans that arrive in the US have very little money.

They have to find somewhere to work, and live. Some of
them find homes with family they already have in the US,
while others will live in apartments or hotels with other illegal
Mexicans. Because these Mexicans don’t have residency in
the United States ­ no social security number, no green
card, and no work permit, it is very difficult for them to find
good jobs. Many people will only hire them for a day, since
they request cash, this is why many of them spend the day
outside Home Depot, looking for work. Many women find
work in cleaning businesses where they get paid by hour in
cash, because these employers are not concerned about

their US residency. Most Mexicans don’t want to have
official jobs on the payroll, because they would have to pay
taxes. They prefer to get paid illegally, or ‘under the table’,
in cash, instead of checks or in any way they have to deal

with income taxes, or government officials.

RESEARCH

WHAT THEY FACE ONCE THEY GET TO

AMERICA? continued...

The majority of Mexicans that relocate to the United States live in large cities
located relatively close to the Mexican­American border, such as Los Angeles
and San Antonio. Although they still live well below the poverty line, they would
feel like they were living in luxury compared to Mexico. Their jobs would pay
much more than any job they would have in Mexico, and even though they live in

poor American neighborhoods, their housing and living conditions would be
much higher than anything they were used to.

Alex Jackson once stated that: “Mexican migrants often take low paying, menial
jobs, which, while low paying, offer higher wages than what they’d earn in

Mexico, as many Americans do not want these low paying jobs but companies
needed people to fill these jobs”. (Jackson) Mexicans are taking hundred and

thousands of jobs that are hard physical work, they are hard labor jobs that
nobody wants, or are hard to fill. This is greatly helping the economy. They are

willing to do jobs for minimum wage or very low rates, and often cut costs by
accepting lower rates, for which an American would not work.

One of the greatest challenges an immigrant from Mexico will face living in
America is the bitter discrimination against them from Americans. Many

Americans are enraged because they feel that these people are coming into their
country illegally and taking their jobs, taking their money, creating political and
social stress, and increasing crime rates in the country. However, they don’t
know that most of them are actually escaping crime, since the crime rates in
Mexico are so incredibly high, they seek a safer life in America, where they feel
they can live and bring up a family safely.  Many people immediately connect
illegal Mexican immigration with crime for example, Forsyth County District
Attorney Tom Keith says “you cannot say ‘drugs’ without saying ‘gangs’ without
saying ‘illegal aliens.’” (Taylor) In fact, the MS­13 is one of the biggest gangs in
America, and it originates from Mexico. However, contrary to popular belief, not
all the illegal Mexican immigrants come to America to get involved in crime, but
with their social status, not knowing English it is easy to assume this. They tend
to live in smaller communities together and being only involved with other
Mexicans, since they are the only ones that can speak English ­ it is easy to get
involved in these criminal activities if others in the community are heavily
involved in it. Most of them actually come to get away from the crime and seek
refuge in America where the crime rate is lower.  They end up finding jobs and
this then causes tensions between the locals and the Mexicans because the

local Americans believe that the Mexicans are coming and taking jobs away from
them, since  they are willing to do the hands­on work for low wages. (Jackson)

A New Day

So much hate

No need to fear

The color of skin

They just don't understand

We're all the same

Inside and outside

Struggling from a poor village, A new day

many dreams of freedom and peace. Got bigger things to worry about

I'm off to make an effort to this We've got a life to live

privilege. Got to do what is right

The day has come I'm on my way to A new day

succeed. Lay my head down

Days and nights of struggles and fear, And pray

wondering if im far or near. For the ones brought down

Many days to get across, but is it worth By the law

it or not. Unjustly, lashed at

lots of walking few car rides, little to no For no apparent reason

food sleepless nights. Can't they see

Few gave up, many didnt make it. We're all the same

here i am, i finally made it, Inside and outside

No more worries no more pain

It may not be easy but it is to gain

ill start off with nothing

but end up with something.

This just said i am impressed

im now here in the big land!

TheBig Land

"We Are All Immigrants"
-Hillary Clinton

http://www.theguardian.com/us­news/video/2015/jul/14/hillary­clinton­donald­
trump­immigrants­us­mexico­video

There is overwhelming Right. We’re going to build the
bipartisan support outside wall; we’re going to create a
of Washington that we need
to finally secure our borders, border. We’re going to let people
enforce our laws, and stop in, but they’re going to come in
legally. They are going to come in
the problem of illegal legally. And it’s something that
immigration.
 Ted Cruz can be done. They built The
Great Wall of China. That’s
“If you’re a criminal 13,000 miles. Here, we actually
alien, no, you can’t need 1,000, because we have
natural barriers. We can do a
stay. If you’re wall. We’re going to have a big,
someone that fat beautiful door right in the
hasn’t been here middle of the wall. We are going
for a very long time, to have people come in, but they
you can’t stay...I are coming in legally. And Mexico
don’t think you’re is going to pay for the wall,
gonna round up because Mexico–I love the
and deport 12 Mexican people, I respect the
million people.” Mexican leaders, but the leaders
Marco Rubio are much sharper, smarter and
more cunning than our leaders.
And people say, “Oh, how are
you going to get Mexico to pay?”
A politician cannot get them to

pay. I can.
Donald Trump

WHAT DOES

WASHINGTON D.C. SAY?

Leaving Poverty To Construct A New Life

In Hidalgo Mexico my house was made of sticks and the roof was made of grass. For me
and my family it is a beautiful place to live in even though we were poor. Where I lived
with my five big sisters and me – the little brother and two nieces and a nephew. I worked
in the crops to get money beginning when I was young – in the morning before going to

school and after school. I’d get home really late at night.
In 1997 I decided to come to America to get money to give to my family. If I wanted to come

to the United states of America I had to cross the border so I decided I had to if it meant
get money for my family to survive. I crossed but got caught by immigration along the
way five times – and had to go back to Hidalgo. When I decided I wanted to try again I said
my final goodbyes to my family and friends and gave thanks to God I made it out safe and
sound. I couldn’t bring anything with me only the clothes and shoes I had on the day I left

Hidalgo because that is the only thing I could carry on my own.
When I got to San Jose my cousin let me live in his house for as long as I wanted. In the

third day I was there he told me he found me a job in construction. When I started
working there I would go every morning to buy breakfast which was really hard for me
because I didn’t know any English. I couldn’t communicate with the waiter because he
didn’t know Spanish. I had to use hand gestures every time I needed to communicate with
someone who didn’t know Spanish. The only thing I knew how to pronounce in English

was to order coffee and donuts. I felt discriminated just for being Mexican and sad
because I left my family and friends.

Three years later in 2000 I went to school every weeknight after work to learn English.
That is where I met a girl that is now my wife. We decided to get married in 2001 and we
had our first daughter and lived for a while in a house shared with two other families.

After the wedding we decided we wanted to live by ourselves and have our own stuff
without needing to share with other families. We moved to another city where we had
other two children and I found a job in construction and got money to send for family in

Mexico. I am working to get money for a bright future for my children too.

Watermelon Arua
Fresca

Prep time: 2 minutes
Ingredients:

4 cups seeded watermelon
1/2 cup water

1/2 cup white sugar, ot to taste
4 slices lime

24 fresh mint leaves
ice

Directions:
Puree the watermelon and water in a blendor until smooth.

add sugar to taste. cut the lime slices in half. place a half
lime into each of the 8 glasses along with 3 mint leaves.
crush with a cocktail muddler, then fill each glass with ice.
pour in the watermelon agua fresca and stir before serving.

ENJOY!

WILL BUILDING A WALL
STOP MEXICANS FROM

CROSSING?

No!

The pictures below show Trumps plan for the
wall that is going to divide America and

Mexico. This is an absolutely ridiculous idea,
the Mexicans are so desperate for a new life, a

new start they will make a bridge over that
wall or build a tunnel underneath that
wall. This idea is not going to work!

Why Do The Mexicans Not

Take Up The

Opportunity Given To Them

By Obama?

What did Obama offer? Why did the illegal

President Barack immigrants reject it?

Obama announced he This is not because the

is granting temporary Mexicans are afraid

legal status and work that the Americans

permits to almost five will et mad at them for

million undocumented coming illegally. In

immigrants. fact, since the crime

http://www.theguardian.com/us­news/video/2014/nov/21/obama­immigration­ rate is so high in
announcement­video­executive­action 

Mexico they are afraid

of that the Mexicans

back home will track

them down and find

them, when they get

there social security

numbers.

H One billion of the
world’s 2.1 billion
E children live in poverty,
with their families
L lacking the means to
meet their basic needs.
That’s nearly half.
Every second child

P

215 million children under !
the age of 18 work, many of
Around the world, 783 million people live without
them full-time, to earn access to safe drinking water.
money to buy food for that
day. Other children (mostly
girls) have to walk for hours
each day to fetch water and

carry it back to their
homes.

www.feedthechildren.org

"My fellow Americans,
we are and always will

be a nation of
immigrants. We were
strangers once, too."

Barack Obama



A New Life: at Age 15

One thing that I have always hoped for is for my kids to have an education and to be
someone in life, and to be known.
During the time I was in Mexico I lived in a place called Morelia. I lived in a regular house
that my dad made, but we still needed money to get food. I worked in the fields. I also
worked on construction with only a few people. I had to work everyday to survive because
life is hard in Mexico. I didn’t have the time to go to school while being in Mexico. I had to
do whatever I can in order to get money.
I decided to leave because I wanted to explore and make my life better, such as moving to
the U.S. In the United States there is more chance of being successful here than in
Mexico. I sort of hated life there in Mexico because there was no future for me there. I had
nothing to do there but suffer trying to keep myself alive.
Then one day I packed my stuff and left. It took me about 5 days because I had to come to
the United States by foot. The way I did it was by paying a guy to guide me along the way.
My feet were killing me on the way there. While there was daylight it was very hot because
I was crossing the desert in order to get here. But the nights were ice cold luckily I had a
jacket with me that a lady gave me. I remember walking on the sand, rocks, and dirt. I also
tried to avoid many deadly scorpions.
Some people did not make it all the way because they were so exhausted. I remember one
of those people was a lady. I remember how she suddenly fainted. It was also the lady that
gave me the jacket for the night. I came here with a few of my friends that also wanted to
have a better life. Once we got here we all went our separate ways. Each of my friends had
some family here while I didn’t. Also I realized that nothing got in the way while I was on
the way to United States. It actually went smoother than I thought because it was easy to
cross the border.
I came here at the age of 15. The first thing I did was try to get a job, but nobody wanted to
give me a job, so it took me a while. Eventually, I got a job working with a man as a
gardener. That’s what I did until I was 18 years old. I first lived in a place called Dos Palos,
in California. I lived there for one year.
Then I realized that one of my older brothers came to the United States also and was
living in Redwood City which was only 3 hours away. Now I live in Redwood City where I
have lived for most of my entire life. It was very hard when I came here because I had to
find a job when I wasn’t even old enough. I also had to find a new place to live with no
money. Also being 15 in Mexico kind of means that you should be working and have your
own place to live. Because as you know there wasn’t as much rules there. I mainly came
here as soon as I can go by myself to try to get a better life. I also didn’t think it through
because I was young and dumb.
Now I live in Redwood City with my wife, 2 sons and 2 daughters. One thing that I have
always hoped for is for my kids to have an education and to be someone in life, and to be
known.

I think if you were born in a Besides the fact that they are illegal,
country you should stay in they contribute to the idea of americ

that country being th "giant melting pot." The
immigrants make that melting pot,.

STERLING EDUCATION'S

VIEWS ON

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

we have nothing to complain We don't see how
about, they are not taking much these people
jobs away from us, they are
are helping our
doing the jobs we don't want country and our
to do. economy/! We need

them!

Dangerous Passage To New Life

When I was 17 years old, I always dreamed about living in the United States. I lived in a small farm in
Aguililla Michoacan, Mexico. In 6th grade, I dropped out to help my parents with the work around the
farm. Being the oldest was not the easiest for me. I had large amounts of responsibilities. My parents
were somewhat old so their energy was limited, so this meant that I had to do most of the parenting and
work around the house.
I was sick and tired of living on a small farm. I had to take care of lots of animals in order for all 11 of my
siblings and both of my parents survive with the limited amount of food that the animals produced. One
day, when everybody was old enough to know what they were doing, I decided to conquer my dream.
I called a friend that knew shortcuts to go to the United States. This is his full time job, this is what he
does. We met up in the woods and began our adventure. I told him that I will pay him a portion of the
money now, and the other when I get to the U.S so my uncle can pay the rest. I decided to do this
because he wasn’t a close friend and I didn’t want to risk him leaving me in the middle of nowhere.
We left on foot and walked through mountain ranges and deserts for days. He guided me through the
way and made sure I was safe every step of the way there. The only things I took were the clothes I had
on, another two pairs of jeans, and a bit of money.
I kind of planned my escape. The only thing I planned was leaving with my partner. I did not know how
long it would take for me to get there. I faced a near death situation while crossing the border. When we
were walking to the border near some mountains, we began to walk toward the woods. We began to
smell the scent of burnt wood. We were now curious enough to go see what it was. We then saw that the
smell was coming from the other side of the border.
When we saw that the coast was clear, we carefully dug a hole beside the border to dig our way to the
other side. While digging, the smell started to get stronger, and stronger, until I had to cover my mouth
and nose with my shirt. When we made it to the end, I popped my head out and saw roaring flames all
over trees that were surrounding us!
We were in panic, we had to move quick. We had no other option than to jump through the flames. I
jumped through and didn’t see my partner with me. My partner tripped and I had to go back through the
flames. I saw him laying on the ground and ran black to get him. Once I grab his hand, we see a massive
tree falling right above us that nearly killed us both. We were lucky enough to move out of the way. We
then safely make it to the United States.
When we first arrived, I saw that there were many buildings in the busy city of San Diego. I then told him
that I’ll pay for the cabs to Los Angeles. He then volunteered to pay for the rest until we got to my uncle’s
house. I knew my uncle that was living in San Jose California. He was the person that is going to help
me pay the other half to my friend. Once he payed the rest, my friend was on his way back to Mexico to
continue his job as a Coyote. I lived in a small apartment with my uncle until I became a gardener. I liked
this job. It gave me the opportunity to have the significant amount of money to live on my own. This was
my first ever job in the United States.
I am now living in Menlo Park California with my wife and two kids. I am now the boss of a construction
company. My hopes for the future are that both my sons go out and be someone in life to make me
proud.

I got 800 miles of bolted border WBhWuoa'islldl?GYoionugr to
Right outside my door

There's minutemen in little pickup trucks
Who declared their own dang war

Now the government wants to build a barrier like ol' berlin, 8 feet tall

But if Uncle Sam sends the illegals home
Who's gonna build the wall

Who's gonna build your wall, boys
Who's gonna maw your lawn

Who's gonna cook your Mexican food
When your Mexican maid is gone

Who's gonna wax your floors tonight
Down at the local mall

Who's gonna wash your baby's face
Who's gonna build your wall

I ain't got no politics
So don't lay that rap on me
Left wing right wing up wing down

I see strip malls

It's the bad cat white developer
Who's created this whole damn squale
It's the pyramid scheme of dirty jobs

And who's gonna build your wall

Who's gonna build your wall, boys
Who's gonna maw your lawn

Who's gonna cook your Mexican food
When your Mexican maid is gone

Who's gonna wax your floors tonight
Down at the local mall

Who's gonna wash your baby's face
Who's gonna build your wall

We've got fundamentalist muslims
We've got fundamentalist jew

We've got fundamentalist Christian
That'll blow the whole thing up for you

But as I travel around this big ol' world
There's one thing that I most fear
It's a white man in a golf shirt
With a cell phone in his ear

Who's gonna build your wall, boys
Who's gonna maw your lawn

Who's gonna cook your Mexican food
When your Mexican maid is gone

Who's gonna wax your floors tonight
Down at the local mall

Who's gonna wash your baby's face
Who's gonna build your wall

song written by Tom Russell

Guava Empanadas

Prep time: 35 minutes
Cook time 15 minutes
Yeild: 10 pastries

Ingredients:
1 8- ounce pakage cream cheese
1 large egg
1 tablespoon sugar
grated zest and juice of 1 lime
1 14-ounce package frozen empanada wrappers, thawed
vegetable oil, for frying
confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions:

pulse the cream cheese, egg, sugar, lime zest and lime juice ina food

processor until smooth.

put 1 tablespoon guava paste in the center of each empanada wrapper,

then top with 1 tablespoon of the cream chesse mixture. fold the dough

over the filling and press the edges with a fork to seal.

heat about 1 1/2 inches vegetable oil in a wide saucepan until a deep-fry

thermometer registers 350 degrees F. working in batches, fry the

empanandas until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side (retuen the oil

to 350 degrees F between batches) Drain on a paper toel lined plate. dust

with confectioners' sugar. Yumm

How much do you

know about Mexico?

1.What is Mexico's official name (in English):
a.Mexico
b.Republic of Mexico
c.United States of Mexico
d.United Mexican States?
2.Mexico is dissected by the:
a.Equator
b. Tropic of Cancer
c.Tropic of Capricorn
d. None of these?
3. The coat of arms of Mexico's emblem, flag and seal feature which
two creatures?
__________________________________________________________________________
4.What iconic Mexican item is named from the translation of 'shade
maker'?
__________________________________________________________________________________
5.Which small dog breed originated in Mexico and is named after a
central northern state?
a. vizsla
b. basset hound
c. chihuahua
d.pug
6.What is Mexico's most commonly used language?
__________________________________________________________________________________

7.What two-word name given to Mexico's mountain ranges means
'Mother Mountains'?
______________________________________________________________
8.The drink Tequila is named after a Mexican:
a.Cactus
b.Town
c.Chef
d.Dance
9.The official national sport of Mexico, the charreada (or charrería),
involves:
a.Horse-riding
b.Boating/surfing
c.Soccer
d.Baseball
10. How many North American railway metro systems are busier
than Mexico City's metro:
a.1
b.2
c.3
d. 4
11. The traditional popular Mexican event/skill Jaripeo involves what
creature:
a.Eagle
b.Dog
c.Bull
d.Boar?
12. What globally popular footwear originated more than 500 years
ago in Mexico:
a.Huarache
b.Flip-flop
c.Wedge
d.Stiletto?

“In Colorado, 500,000 illegal migrants, plus their 300,000 kids and grandkids
would move back ‘home’ mostly to Mexico. That would save an estimated $2
billion (other experts say $7 billion) annually in taxes that pay for schooling,

medical, social services and incarceration costs. It means 12,000 gang
members would vanish out of Denver alone. Colorado would save more than
$20 million in prison costs and the terrors that those 7,300 alien criminals set

upon local citizens.”

what

whould happen
if all the
illegal mexicans
went back to
MEXICO?

"Too often immigration debates focus on the beneficiaries of immigration
policies (that is, the immigrants themselves, employers, and sometimes
consumers) while failing to acknowledge that there are always losers too,
which is especially important since the losers are disproportionately those
already on the bottom rungs of society€s economic ladder as well as the
taxpayers in general who often are required to support or to supplement the
financial needs of unskilled immigrants and refugees. One of the strongest
reasons for the existence of immigration policies that limit the number of

immigrants is that they protect those citizen workers who are most
vulnerable to the increased job and wage competition of immigrant entry."

Freedom

Give me you tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

TWoI NM Ae TxRicIPo

http://www.visitmexico.com/