SJ Project-The Undocumented Experience

I interviewed *Raul on his experience here as an undocumented worker here in the United States. He came here many years ago illegally seeking a better paying job. He is currently employed and expriences the everyday dangers that come along with being "illegal" in the United States.


Why did u decide to come to the U.S.?

I decided to come here because of the differences in the salaries. In Mexico you get paid little and there aren’t that many jobs to choose from. So why not go to a place where you can get paid 20 times more. So basically it was to earn more money.

What did you do in Mexico?

I worked as a messenger in a bank but even then the money still wasn’t enough. But I did have a job.


What kind of jobs did you find were available to you?

The jobs that one looks for when you get here are jobs like cleaning or cutting grass, you know manual labor. So the first job I got when I got here was cleaning a building as a janitor in Schaumburg. Basically these are just jobs that don’t have many opportunities to better your self, its just working for the pay.


How do you feel to be an undocumented person in the United States? And What dangers do you face everyday as an undocumented worker?

I feel sad because you know that since you are illegal in this country the people view you differently. The jobs that are offered or given to you are the ones that people who are legal don’t want. I face many dangers everyday. As soon as I come out of my house and drive, I drive with out a license because I can’t get one since I’m undocumented, so the first danger is if I have a car accident or for whatever reason a cop pulls me over, they will find out that I’m an illegal and they would deport me back to Mexico. Or at work the immigration can show up find out that you don’t have papers. You can end up with out a job or worst get deported. There are numerous fears.


If you had another choice would you have stayed in Mexico or would you have come here either way?

If things were better in Mexico I would have probably stayed over there. What would I come looking for in another country if I would have everything back home. I would have definitely stayed over there if things were in a better economic situation. In Mexico I earned about $5 a day, that I earn in a hour here, so the differences in salaries is what attracted me.


If you weren’t undocumented what other plans would you have?

I would look for a better job. A job where I could have better job positions and try to better myself over all. I would go back to school depending on the job I could find so that I could do the job better and better myself as well. Because the jobs that I have had, when I would start earning more and getting superior positions that is when they would ask for my papers and I wouldn’t have it; so then I would have to start all over again from the lowest position.


Are you hoping that your immigration status can be resolved some time soon?

Well there is much hope with the new president for things to get better or at least for an attempt to be made. Hopefully it is possible because there are many people who don’t want them (undocumented) here even though they take the jobs that others don’t want to take.


*Name was changed