The document summarizes Jorge G. Castaneda's book "Ex Mex" which details the immigrant experience of crossing the border from Mexico to the United States and life thereafter. It describes the dangers of crossing the border such as dehydration, snake bites, rape, and sun exposure. It notes that once in the US, Mexican immigrants often start with low-paying or minimum wage jobs, working hard to send money back to their families in Mexico to support them, despite the hardships endured in crossing the border illegally.