I only hid it when I just graduated high school. I had just learned of my status and I was embarrassed. Everyone was wondering why I didn't go off to the police academy or military like everyone expected. I would just say police work wasn't for me after all. Big lie! 5 years as a police explorer building relationships and networking to insure a spot in my city's department wasted! wa wa.. its cool, Im over it.

Now I don't hide it but it never comes up in conversation and no one has ever asked me. Only a few close friends know and that's cause I told them. No one else even has a clue because its not obvious. People don't picture people like me or all of us here as being illegal. They have an image of all illegals being poor, working in fast food and not speaking fluent english...