Jose Luis Medina, a Mexican immigrant, cares for his two-month-old son Michael while his 15-year-old American wife goes to school. The Medinas are one of few interracial couples in town. They are also among a number of couples with pronounced age differences. They avoided legal problems by getting married in a neighboring state that has different laws regarding minors’ marriage. Another Mexican immigrant to Beardstown recently ended up in prison for statutory rape of his American girlfriend, prompting anger and resentment in both communities.
