What should I be aware of before marrying an illegal Mexican?

Answer 1

That they can be deported at any time. And may not be able to get back to the country for many years, if allowed at all.

Persons who have illegally entered the United States are subject to deportation. Even if they leave voluntarily, they are subject to a 10-year bar for reentry, even if they are married to an American citizen. That bar can be as much as 20 years or forever, if the foreigner was convicted of a serious crime. During that time period, you must decide whether to stay in the U.S. or be with your spouse in Mexico.

Also, American citizens who marry foreigners only for the purpose of illegally assisting them in evading the Immigration laws (i.e. sham marriage for papers only) are subject to fine and imprisonment.

If you marry an illegal alien, you will not be able to travel with him internationally. You will also not be able to fly domestically with him in the U.S. In fact, it is dangerous for an illegal alien even to use interstate public transportation (such as Greyhound or Amtrak), as immigration officers often pull people off trains and buses.

Your illegal alien spouse is not eligible for Social Security retirement, Social Security disability, food stamps, Medicare, Medicaid, public housing, federal tuition assistance, etc. This could make things difficult in your later years, unless you choose to retire in Mexico.

It is extremely difficult for an illegal alien to find work. Even if he does, it is usually a low paying job with no benefits, which means no health insurance.

In some states, it's illegal to rent an apartment or house to an illegal alien. In some states, it's even illegal to drive a car with an illegal alien as passenger on board. The car can even be seized.

Conversely, Americans may enter Mexico at any time without a visa and remain for a maximum of six months. American spouses (including same-sex spouses) of Mexican citizens may apply for immigrant visas to Mexico that must be renewed yearly (there are other eligibility criteria). An American spouse of a Mexican citizen is eligible for naturalization (i.e. can become a citizen of Mexico) after two years of residence in Mexico. Once that process is finalized, the American spouse is a dual citizen of both Mexico and the United States, although there are ways in which Mexican citizenship can be lost. (U.S. citizenship can never be lost or renounced.)