US Immigration Mexican Border Crossings

United States    Emigration and Immigration    Mexican Border Crossing Records

Mexican Border Crossings immigration records from Mexico to the United States often include detailed family information. Numerous Mexicans came to Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas in the late 19th and early 20th century. Records of 20th century Mexican border crossings are available at the National Archives and Family History Library. An online index is available at Border Crossings from Mexico to the United States (FamilySearch Historical Records).  Microfilm of these records is organized by the immigration border town where the crossing took place.

Crossing the Frontera is a free online class with search tips and techniques to help you with Mexican Border Crossing records.

Mexico Border Stations

You may access the following records by ordering the microfilm from your local FamilySearch center. Or check the National Archives catalog to see if the National Archives facility nearest you holds a copy of the correct film. Access the catalog through the link then put the microfilm number in microfilm search box. Facilities which hold the film are listed on the right side of the page.

Arizona

• Aros Ranch, Douglas, Lochiel, Naco and Nogales, Arizona, alien arrivals 1906-1910
  
  
• Douglas, alien arrivals 1906-1955
  
• Naco, index and manifests 1908-1952
  
• Nogales, index and manifests 1905-1952
  
• San Luis, alphabetical manifests 1929-1952
• Sasabe/San Fernanodo, index and manifests 1919-1952

California

• Andrade and Campo (Tecate), alien arrivals 1910-1952
• San Ysidro (Tia Juana) alien arrivals 1908-1952

New Mexico

• Columbus, New Mexico, alphabetical manifests 1917-1954
• see also Texas: El Paso, Fabens, Fort Hancock, Ysleta
• Border Crossings from Mexico to the United States
  

Texas

• Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo, Presidio, Rio Grande City, and Roma, Texas, alien arrivals 1903-1909 (A3365)
  
  
• Brownsville, indexes and manifests 1905-1953 (M1502)
  
• Eagle Pass, chronological manifests 1905-1953 (M1755)
• Eagle Pass, alphabetical cards 1905-1929 (M1754)
• Eagle Pass, index to manifests 1929-1953 (M2040)
• Eagle Pass, mostly alphabetical manifests 1928-1953(M2041)

• El Paso, alphabetical manifests 1924-1954 (M1757)
• El Paso, alphabetical applications for I.D. cards 1945-1952 (M1756)
• Fabens, alphabetical cards 1924-1954 (M1768)
• Fort Hancock, alphabetical manifests 1924-1954 (M1766)
  
• Laredo, alien arrivals 1903-1907 (M2008)
  
• Laredo, alphabetical manifest cards 1903-1929 (A3379)
• Laredo, alphabetical manifest cards 1929-1955 (M1722)
• Progreso/Thayer, index and manifests 1928-1955 (M1851)
  
• Roma, index and manifests 1928-1955 (M1503)
  
• Ysleta, alphabetical manifests and applications for I.D. cards 1924-1954 (M1849)
• Zapata, indexes and manifests 1923-1953 (M2024)

Card Manifest Descriptions

Card manifests were collected for each person crossing the border. These forms were patterned after the ship manifest cards used at other ports.  Different types of card manifests were implemented for various purposes.  The most common forms are described below. When viewing these cards it is important to check the reverse side of the card.  The "back side" of the card many include instructions about the card, lists of multiple entries into the U.S. for the individual, or an attached photograph.

Statistical reports were for immigrants or non-immigrants from outside the Western Hemisphere.

Non-statistical reports were for immigrants or non-immigrants who were natives of Western Hemisphere nations.

U.S. Immigration Mexican Border Crossing Card Manifests
Form Number	Description
Form 548 Form 548-B Form I-448 Manifest Most Common Manifest	Generally includes: Marital Status Place of Birth Physical Description Occupation Ability read or write, and in what language Last permanent residence Destination Purpose for entering the U.S. Intent to become a U.S. citizen Head tax status Previous citizenships
Form 502 (unnamed) Form 1502 (unnamed)	Printed and intended as a card index to ship passenger arrivals. The form listed: Steamer line (steamship line) Group number (page number for ship manifest) List (line number on ship manifest) Adapted for use with land border arrivals with Immigrant's name, age, sex Steamer=name of railroad Line=destination, date and port of arrival Group=manifest number ( not significant information) List=changed to Serial Number The serial number and date of arrival may be used to find the corresponding sheet manifest.
Form 621 Statistical	Generally includes: Marital Status Occupation Ability read or write Last place of residence Future place of residence Place of Birth Physical Description Who paid the immigrant's passage The amount of money the immigrant brought Names of persons accompanying the immigrant
Form 622 Statistical	Generally includes: Marital Status Occupation Ability read or write Last place of residence Future place of residence Place of Birth Physical Description Who paid the immigrant's passage The amount of money the immigrant brought Names of persons accompanying the immigrant
Form 629 NonStatistical	Generally includes: Name, Age, Sex Marital Status Race Occupation Ability read or write Last place of residence Destination Port and date of admission Amount of money carrying May contain all available entry information
Form 629A Untitled, May show no number	Generally includes: Name, Age, Sex Nationality Race Physical description Destination Port and date Reason for being disbarred from the United States This cause is often LPC, or likely to become a public charge, or no visa.
Form 657 Record of Registry Occasional used non-printed forms, typewritten versions with no form number	Generally includes:  Alien's Date of Arrival Name, Age Occupation Place of last residence before entry Means of arrival in the U.S. (such as ship or railway) Alien's Date of Registry Name, Age Occupation Physical description Place of residence Place of birth Photograph Date of approval of registry Certificate of registry District file number Bureau file number The record of registry was a record of lawful arrival made for certain aliens who lawfully entered the U.S. at an earlier time, but for whom the INS could find no record of arrival. The law enacted in 1929 and amended in 1939, particularly addressed aliens who entered before 1924 and who had resided in the country continuously since that date. In addition the alien was to be of good moral character and not subject to deportation. The alien could make an application, pay the fee, and receive a record of registry. "Lawful Entry" was the reauthorized of this program by the Nationality Act of 1940.
Form Spl. 125 Alien Laborer's Identification Card	Generally includes:  Date  Port which issued the card  Name, Age  Marital Status  Height  Physical marks  Last residence  Ability read or write  Photograph  Destination  Employer's name  This statement: "The bearer, a native and citizen of Mexico, has this day been granted the privilege of temporarily entering the United States in accordance with and under the conditions of Department [of Labor] circular of June 12, 1918, as amended."
Form Spl. 225 Departure	Generally includes: Marital Status Height Occupation Ability read or write Country of permanent residence Previous country of residence before coming to the U.S. Town and state of last residence in the U.S. Date and port of departure If native-born U.S. citizen, U.S. birthplace' If naturalized U.S. citizen, date and place of naturalization
Form Spl. 259 Statstical Index card	Generally includes: Name, Age, Sex Citizenship or nationality Last place of residence Destination Port and date of admission Status as a non-immigrant or immigrant Note: there may be a number written to the right of the of the person's name or gender. This is usually the official manifest number. Use this number with the date of the arrival to locate the statisical maifest. This information may be on a blank index card instead of an official Form Sp. 259
Form Spl. 442 Nonstatstical	Generally includes:  Marital Status Occupation Ability read or write Place of last permanent residence Destination Persons accompanying the alien Amount of money alien was carrying Whether this if the alien's first entrance into the U.S. The reverse of the card may show dates of of subsequent admissions into the U.S., destination and purpose for visiting.
Form I-94 Record of Alien Admitted for Temporary Stay	Generally includes:  Home address Place of birth Marital status Occupation Physical description Name and address of nearest relative at home Date of previous  Whether this if the alien's first entrance into the U.S. The reverse of the card may show dates of of subsequent admissions into the U.S., destination and purpose for visiting.

About this collection

A wiki article describing Mexican Border Crossing Records is found at:

Border Crossing from Mexico to the United States (FamilySearch Historical Records)