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.



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. No images or indexes are online through the National Archives.

Ancestry.com
Index with images is found on Ancestry.com. To access Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964

FamilySearch
United States, Border Crossings from Mexico to United States, 1903-1957 Index only. This collection is incomplete.

About the Records
You may access the Mexican Border Crossings by viewing the microfilm at the Family History Library or some family history centers. Or check the National Archives catalog to see if the National Archives facility nearest you holds a copy of the correct film. The National Archive film numbers are listed before the collections in the tables below. Access the National Archives catalog through the link then:


 * Find the correct microfilm number in the tables below.
 * Open the link to NARA's catalog.
 * Put the microfilm number in microfilm search box.
 * Hit the search button.
 * Click on the blue title when it appears.
 * Facilities which hold the film are listed on the right side of the page.
 * View important publication details by clicking on the PDF document on the right-hand side of the page.

New Mexico

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

Texas
Table created 2 May 2013

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.

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)