United States Border Crossings from Mexico to United States - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
This database contains an index of aliens and some citizens crossing into the U.S. from Mexico via various ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexican border between 1903 and 1957.

The database was created to facilitate the research of ancestors who crossed the Mexican border. The original customs records were maintained primarily for statistical purposes.

This index, taken from the card manifests, is a reliable source for finding ancestors who crossed the Mexican border and entered into the United States between 1903 and 1957. The following National Archives publications are included in this collection:

Arizona
 * M1759,Nonstatistical manifests and statistical index cards of aliens arriving at Douglas, Arizona, July 1908-December 1952
 * M1760,Manifests of alien arrivals at Douglas, Arizona, September 10, 1906-October 10, 1955
 * A3372,Manifests of alien arrivals at Naco, Arizona, 1908-1952
 * M1769,Index and manifests of alien arrivals at Nogales, Arizona
 * M1504,Manifests of alien arrivals at San Luis, Arizona, July 24, 1929-December 1952
 * M1850,Index and manifests of alien arrivals at Sasabe/San Fernando, Arizona, 1919-1952

New Mexico
 * A3370,Manifests of alien arrivals at Columbus, New Mexico, 1917-1954

Texas
 * M1502,Statistical and nonstatistical manifests of alien arrivals at Brownsville, Texas, February 1905-June 1953, and related indexes
 * M1755,Permanent and statistical manifests of alien arrivals at Eagle Pass, Texas, June 1905-June 1953
 * M2040,Index to manifests of permanent and statistical arrivals at Eagle Pass, Texas, December 1, 1929-June 1953
 * M2041,Temporary and nonstatistical manifests of aliens arriving at Eagle Pass, Texas, July 1928-June 1953
 * M1756,Applications for nonresident alien's border crossing identification cards made at El Paso, Texas, ca. July 1945-December 1952
 * M1757,Manifests of aliens granted temporary admission at El Paso, Texas, ca. July 1924-1954
 * A3412,Manifests of statistical alien arrivals at El Paso, Texas, May 1909-October 1924
 * M1768,Alphabetical card manifests of alien arrivals at Fabens, Texas
 * M1766,Alphabetical card manifests of alien arrivals at Fort Hancock, Texas, 1924-1954
 * M1771,Alphabetical manifests of non-Mexican aliens granted temporary admission at Laredo, Texas
 * A3379,Nonstatistical manifests and statistcal index cards of aliens arriving at Laredo, Texas, May 1903-November 1929
 * M2008,Lists of aliens arriving at Laredo, Texas, from July 1903 to June 1907, via the Mexican National Railroad or the Laredo Foot Bridge
 * M1851,Index and manifests of alien arrivals at Progreso/Thayer, Texas, October 1928-May 1955
 * M1503,Index and manifests of alien arrivals at Roma, Texas, March 1928-May 1955
 * M1770,Indexes and Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Rio Grande City, Texas
 * M1849,Manifests of alien arrivals at Yseleta, Texas, 1924-1954
 * M2024,Indexes and manifests of alien arrivals at Zapata, Texas, August 1923-September 1953

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Ancestry’s Mexican Border Crossing Database
 * Name
 * Age
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Gender
 * Ethnicity or nationality
 * Port of arrival
 * Arrival date

The short forms (index cards)*Name
 * Age
 * Sex
 * Citizenship ("nationality")
 * Race
 * Last place of residence
 * Destination
 * Port and date of admission
 * Status as immigrant or non immigrant. The number annotated to the right of the person's name or gender is generally the "real" manifest number that is used, along with the date of arrival, to locate the person's statistical manifest--which contains additional information--in a separate series of card manifests. Sometimes, information was simply typewritten onto a blank card instead of a form.

The manifest
 * Name
 * Age
 * Marital status
 * Place of birth
 * Physical description
 * Occupation
 * Ability to read and write and in what language
 * Place of last permanent residence
 * Destination
 * Purpose for entering U.S.
 * Intention of becoming a U.S. citizen or of returning to country of previous residence
 * Head tax status
 * Previous citizenship
 * Name and address of the friend or relative whom the alien intended to join
 * Persons accompanying the alien
 * Name and address of the alien's nearest relative or friend in the country from which he or she came
 * If the alien had ever been in the U.S. in the past, the dates and places of such residence or visitation are indicated.

Collection Content
Many of the records are arranged alphabetically. Others are arranged chronologically, then by manifest number. Chronologically-arranged records usually have a related alphabetical index. Alphabetically-arranged records are filed by surname, then by first name, subject to special rules. Double names are filed as if the second part of the double name was not there. For example, Jimenez De San Miguel, Petra, is filed among other persons named Jimenez, Petra. Castro, Maria de los Angeles, is filed among other persons named Castro, Maria. Montalvo-Hernandez, Jose, is filed among other persons named Montalvo, Jose. Surnames like De La Huerta are filed under Huerta.

Separate cards or “card manifests” for each person were used at the ports of entry along the Mexican border. These cards contained the same information as was collected on traditional ship passenger arrival lists, such as full name, age, sex, marital status, occupation, point of arrival in the United States, and final destination.

As would be expected, Mexican nationals comprised the vast majority of alien arrivals at the U.S./Mexico land border. However, Europeans also entered the U.S. through these ports, as well aliens from elsewhere in the world. For example, Syrians and large numbers of Japanese entered at Eagle Pass, Texas, in 1906 and 1907. Japanese, Turkish, Syrian, Guatemalan, and Korean citizens, in addition to many Europeans, entered at Laredo, Texas, 1903-1907. Citizens of Japan, Palestine, Syria, Canada, and the Philippine Islands are among those who entered at Brownsville, Texas. A scattering of U.S. citizen arrivals are also found in these records.

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The residence of your ancestor
 * The age of your ancestor
 * The estimated immigration year
 * The names of other family members

Search the Index
Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Even though these indexes are very accurate they may still contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned

The database is an index in alphabetical order. There are two types of cards that can be found. One is an short form (index card). These short forms, while valuable, do not contain as much information as can be found on the manifest. If you find a short form (index card) for your ancestor, be sure to try to locate the longer manifest form. Usually the information found in these records will identify the place and date of birth of the ancestor which allow for further research in the records of that place.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the border crossing information to locate naturalization records
 * Use the information to find the family in census records
 * Use the information to search other records

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the records of port cities along the border
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.