US Immigration Mexican Border Crossings

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United States

Emigration and Immigration

Mexican Border Crossing Records

Mexican Border Crossings

• 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.

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

Online Records (Indexes)

• 1895-1964 Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964 at Ancestry ($). Index and images.
• 1903-1957 United States, Border Crossings from Mexico to United States, 1903-1957 at FamilySearch. Index only, incomplete. How to Use This Collection

Many additional records for specific ports can be found online. Links are found in the following chart.

Links to Microfilms

The following chart lists links to the two types of microfilms available.

• The FamilySearch Collection has digitized, online copies of the microfilms made of the records by the National Archives.
• The National Archives has microfilms of the original records held in their main archives and in some regional archives. It also has some digitized, online copies.

Film numbers in the second column, not labeled as online, lead to .pdf documents describing the contents.

NARA film numbers will also be used to locate non-digitized microfilms available in archives. See Finding the Records.

Arizona

Arizona
FamilySearch Digitized Film	Ancestry Collection	NARA Film Number Some Online	Title
2342416	Ancestry	A3365 Online	Lists of Aliens Arriving at Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo, Presidio, Rio Grande City and Roma, Texas, May 1903 - June 1909, and at Aros Ranch, Douglas, Lochiel, Naco and Nogales, Arizona, July 1906 - December 1910
1343190	Ancestry	A3372	Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Naco, Arizona, May 24, 1908 - ca. December 1952
103246014	Ancestry	A3377 Online	Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Ajo, Lukeville, and Sonoyta (Sonoita), Arizona, January 1919 - December 1952, and at Los Ebanos, Texas, December 1950 - May 1955, NARA microfilm publication
1343023	Ancestry	M1504	Manifests of Alien Arrivals at San Luis, Arizona, July 24, 1929 - December 1952
2241245	Ancestry	M1759	Nonstatistical Manifests and Statistical Index Cards of Aliens Arriving at Douglas, Arizona, July 1908 - December 1952
2241352	Ancestry	M1760	Manifests of Permanent and Temporary Alien Arrivals at Douglas, Arizona, September 10, 1906 - October 10, 1955
1343023	Ancestry	M1769	Index and Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Nogales, Arizona, July 5, 1905 - 1952
2241236	Ancestry	M1850	Index and Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Sasabe/San Fernando, Arizona, 1919 - 1952

California

California
FamilySearch Digitized Film	Ancestry Collection	NARA Film Number Some Online	Title
101012696	Ancestry	A3467 Online	Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Calexico, California, March 1907-December 1952
2242997	Ancestry	M1767	Manifests of Alien Arrivals at San Ysidro (Tia Juana), California, April 21, 1908 - December 1952,
2138429	Ancestry	M2030	Statistical and Nonstatistical Manifests and Related Indexes of Aliens Arriving at Andrade and Campo (Tecate), California, 1910 - 1952

New Mexico

New Mexico
FamilySearch Digitized Film	Ancestry Collection	NARA Film Number	Title
1343185	Ancestry	A3370	Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Columbus, New Mexico, 1917 - 1954

• See also Texas: El Paso, Fabens, Fort Hancock, Ysleta

Texas

Texas
FamilySearch Digitized Film	Ancestry Collection	NARA Film Number Some Online	Title
1343023	Ancestry	A3365 Online	Lists of Aliens Arriving at Brownsville, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Laredo, Presidio, Rio Grande City and Roma, Texas, May 1903 - June 1909, and at Aros Ranch, Douglas, Lochiel, Naco and Nogales, Arizona, July 1906 - December 1910
1343208	Ancestry	A3379	Nonstatistical Manifests and Statistical Index Cards of Aliens Arriving at Laredo, Texas, May 1903 - November 1929
Online Index	Ancestry	A3393 Online	Index to Manifests of Permanent and Statistical Alien Arrivals at Laredo, Texas, December 1929 - April 1955
Online Index	Ancestry	A3395 Online	Indexes and Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Del Rio, Texas, June 1906-July 1953
2241245	Ancestry	A3396	Index to Manifests of Permanent and Statistical Alien Arrivals at El Paso, Texas, July 1924 - July 1952,
Online Index	Ancestry	A3406 Online	Nonstatistical Manifests and Statistical Index Cards of Aliens Arriving at El Paso, Texas, 1905 - 1927
7619418	Ancestry	A3412	Manifests of Statistical Alien Arrivals at El Paso, Texas, May 1909 - October 1924
104967871	Ancestry	A3431 Online	Nonstatistical Manifests of Temporary Alien Arrivals at Laredo, Texas, July 1908 - February 1912
103115266	Ancestry	A3437	Manifests of Statistical and Some Nonstatistical Alien Arrivals at Laredo, Texas, May 1903 - April 1955
Online Index	Ancestry	A3455 Online	Permanent and Statistical Manifests of Alien Arrivals at El Paso, Texas, April 1924-September 1954
104822451	Ancestry	A3466A A3466B Online	Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Presidio, Texas, 1895 - 1955
1283921	Ancestry	M1502	Statistical and Nonstatistical Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Brownsville, Texas, and Related Indexes, February 1905 - June 1953
1283858	Ancestry	M1503	Indexes and Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Roma, Texas, March 1928 - May 30, 1955
1283865	Ancestry	M1754 Online	Nonstatistical Manifests and Statistical Index Cards of Aliens Arriving at Eagle Pass, Texas, June 1905 - November 1929
2138434	Ancestry	M1755	Permanent and Statistical Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Eagle Pass, Texas, June 1905 - June 1953
1343099	Ancestry	M1756	Applications for Nonresident Alien's Border Crossing Identification Cards Made at El Paso, Texas, ca. July 1945 - December 1952
1283895	Ancestry	M1757	Manifests of Aliens Granted Temporary Admission at El Paso, Texas, July 1924 - 1954
2241229	Ancestry	M1766	Alphabetical Card Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Fort Hancock, Texas, 1924 - 1954
2241222	Ancestry	M1768	Alphabetical Card Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Fabans, Texas, 1924 - 1954
7718358	Ancestry	M1770	Indexes and Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Rio Grande City, Texas, November 16, 1908 - May 30, 1955
7718350	Ancestry	M1771	Alphabetical Manifests of Non-Mexican Aliens Granted Temporary Admission at Laredo, Texas, December 1, 1929 - April 8, 1955
2241365	Ancestry	M1772	Manifests of Aliens Granted Temporary Admission at Laredo, Texas, December 1, 1929 - April 8, 1955
7512273	Ancestry	M1774	Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels (March 1931 - March 1957) and Airplanes (December 1954 - March 1957) Arriving at Brownsville, Texas
2138421	Ancestry	M1849	Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Yseleta, Texas, July 1924 - 1954
1343180	Ancestry	M1851	Index and Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Progreso/Thayer, Texas, October 6, 1928 - May 27, 1955
Online Index	Ancestry	M1973 Online	Statistical Manifests of Alien Arrivals By Airplane at San Antonio, Texas, May 17, 1944 - March 1952
2394635	Ancestry	M2008	Lists of Aliens Arriving at Laredo, Texas, from July 1903 to June 1907, via the Mexican National Railroad or the Laredo Foot Bridge
2138450	Ancestry	M2024	Indexes and Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Zapata, Texas, August 18, 1923 - September 15, 1953
2138434	Not included	M2040	Index to Manifests of Permanent and Statistical Arrivals at Eagle Pass, Texas, December 1, 1929-June 1953
2138436	Ancestry	M2041	Temporary and Nonstatistical Manifests of Aliens Arriving at Eagle Pass, Texas, July 1928 - June 1953

National Archives (NARA) Microfilms

• Mexican Border Crossing Records in the National Archives

Mexican border crossing records were filmed by the National Archives in 1957. All original records were destroyed when the filming was finished. A detailed description of the films is found on the NARA site. All images are available in the FamilySearch Collection. Some images are online through the National Archives.

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Finding the Records

• You can access all the Mexican Border Crossings by viewing the online, digitized microfilms of the FamilySearch Collection. Links to specific films are in the first column of the chart above.

OR

• You can directly access films through the National Archives. Some of the films are online through the National Archives. Links to these are labeled "Online" in the NARA Film Number column in the above chart (second column).

OR

• Other films are available to read at an archive near you. To locate these films follow these steps.

*Find the correct microfilm number in the second column of the above chart.

*Login or Create a new account.

*Access the National Archives catalog through this link.

*Select "Microfilm".

*Put the microfilm number in microfilm search box and click "Search".

*Click on the blue title when it appears.

*Facilities which hold the film are listed on the right side of the page. This "Facilities" link gives a directory of archives and their contact information.

Select "Microfilm".

Enter the microfilm number.

Click on the blue link.

Locate the facilities list found on the right side of the catalog listing.

Manifest Card Contents

Example of One Type
of Manifest Card

• Keeping statistics on alien arrivals at U.S. land borders was not required by early immigration acts. Thus, statistical treatment of Canadian and Mexican border immigrants at times has differed from that of other immigrants.
• When records of arrivals began to be kept at the Canadian border in 1895 and at the Mexican border, ca. 1906, the immigration authorities found it impractical to collect arrival information on lists as they did for ship passengers. Therefore, separate cards or "card manifests" for each person were used instead.
• 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.

Cards will include many of the following items of information. There are different styles of cards, each with different content.

Immigrant's name, age, sex Marital Status Place of Birth Physical Description Height Physical marks Occupation Nationality Race Ability read or write, and in what language Last permanent residence

Future place of residence Destination Purpose for entering the U.S. Intent to become a U.S. citizen Head tax status Previous citizenships The amount of money the immigrant brought Names of persons accompanying the immigrant Employer's name Port and date of admission Means of arrival in the U.S. (such as ship or railway)

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 Whether this if the alien's first entrance into the U.S. Photograph Date of approval of registry Certificate of registry District file number Bureau file number