US Immigration Mexican Border Crossings

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)
'''Many additional records for specific ports can be found online. Use the following chart.'''
 * 1895-1964 Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964 at Ancestry.com ($). Index and images.
 * 1903-1957 at FamilySearch. Index only, incomplete. How to Use This Collection

Locating a Specific Film
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.

New Mexico

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

National Archives (NARA) Microfilms
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. -
 * Mexican Border Crossing Records in the National Archives

Finding the Records
OR OR
 * 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.
 * 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 (second column in the above chart.
 * 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.

Manifest Card Contents
'''Cards will include many of the following items of information. There are different styles of cards, each with different content.'''
 * 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.