EDITOR'S NOTE: The names in this story have been changed at the sources' request due to the sensitive nature of their experiences.
The United States has seen an influx of Latino and Hispanic immigrants every year with the population reaching more than 40 million in 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The rate of this population's increase is nearly four times the white, non-Hispanic population increase in the United States. Bloomington resident Janet, who is married to a former illegal immigrant, said she notices many more Hispanics coming to Bloomington, either to chase the "American Dream" or to make money and return to Mexico.\nJanet's husband, Jose, came to the United States at age 17 illegally.\n"I just had an American Dream," he said.\nJose said Mexicans and Americans help Hispanics cross the border illegally, but it costs a good deal of money.\n"When you decide to come to the United States, you need to find people who traffic in illegal persons to the U.S., make a plan, and the prize (payment). So they put the day and time to be at the border, and they pass you," Jose said. \nHe said some people just walk over the border, while some swim up the river or just ride over in vehicles. \nSome people go a couple days with no food or water, he said, and others get shot up with drugs, like cocaine. Jose said this is because there are "crazy people" at the border who shoot at and beat Mexicans coming over and "sometimes you have to run."\n"I hate those people," Jose said. "They are stupid because they don't respect people. I understand we are (illegal) and we don't belong in your country, but think about if we did that to your Americans going into Mexico," Jose said. "They're not even police. They are just normal Americans who beat people up, then turn them into immigration."\nOther problems that Hispanics in Bloomington face include not having the same opportunities, due to not having legal status, not knowing the English language, not having adequate education, not having a driving license, not being able to find housing and racism, Jose said.\n"It was awful when I came to the U.S. and didn't speak any English. It was hard to communicate," he said. "I learned (English) by working at restaurants and my wife helped out a lot." \nJose has worked in three restaurants since he has been in the United States and currently holds two jobs. He works a total of 70 to 80 hours a week. \nAlthough Jose is now legal since he married Janet, a U.S. citizen, he needed to go through a long process when he first came to this country in order to get hired. The process included getting fake papers and a fake social security number. \nJose still does not have a social security number yet, so he cannot claim his taxes. \n"Now we have to pay all these back taxes. We're still working on the paperwork for that," Janet said. \nShe said it's harder now to become a citizen because "they are doing a lot of mean things right now." She said it started with some changes in the law after Sept. 11. "We've gone through a lot," she said. "It's been hard." \nAlthough Jose wishes to stay in the U.S. and hopes to continue his education to get better opportunities and raise a family, some immigrants who are here intend to return to Mexico. \nCorena, who works two jobs -- one in a kitchen at a Bloomington restaurant and another at a fast food restaurant -- said she came here to save money and then return to Mexico, since the exchange rate is so great. She said she would work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Mexico and make only $35. \nCorena came to the U.S. by flying to the border and then swimming up the Texas River. When asked if she was scared, she said she was.\nHer first impression of the U.S. was that it is "nice and beautiful." She came to Bloomington because she already had family here. Corena has lived here for two-and-a-half years and plans to stay another five. \n"I want to go back because I miss Mexico and my family," she said.
