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.

Border Town Ports of Entry

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 (M1758)
• 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 (M175)
• 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 sid 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.

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.

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)

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