Jump to content

List of Mexico–United States border crossings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Traffic approaching the San Ysidro, San Diego border inspection station

There are 50 places where people can cross the Mexico–United States border. Several large border cities have multiple crossings, often including one or more that bypass the center of the city and are designated for truck traffic. For planned crossings, see the Proposed crossings section below. For former border crossings, see the Closed crossings section below. Details on each of the US ports of entry are provided using the links in the table.

On the U.S. side, each crossing has a three-letter Port of Entry code. This code is also seen on passport entry stamp or parole stamp. The list of codes is administered by the Department of State. Note that one code may correspond to multiple crossings.[1]

Vehicle and pedestrian crossings

[edit]
United States
Port of Entry
Code United States
Road/Highway
City and State Mexican
Port of Entry
Mexican
Road/Highway
City and State Structure or
Notable Feature
Opened

California–Baja California

[edit]
PedWest SYS Virginia Avenue San Ysidro, California Puerta Oeste Plaza Viva Tijuana Tijuana, Baja California Pedestrian only; southbound in to MX has limited hours. 2016
San Ysidro SYS I-5 (John J. Montgomery Freeway) San Ysidro, California El Chaparral Fed. 1 Tijuana, Baja California No Trucks 1906
San Ysidro Pedestrian SYS San Ysidro Boulevard San Ysidro, California Puerta Este Rampa Xicoténcatl Tijuana, Baja California Pedestrian only 1906
Cross-border Terminal, Tijuana International Airport OTM Otay Pacific Drive Otay Mesa, California Tijuana International Airport Carretera Aeropuerto S/N, colonia Nueva Tijuana Tijuana, Baja California Pedestrian only, ticketed passengers only 2015
Otay Mesa OTM SR 905 (Otay Mesa Freeway) Otay Mesa, California Mesa de Otay Boulevard Garita de Otay Tijuana, Baja California 1983
Tecate TEC SR 188 Tecate, California Tecate Avenida Presidente Lázaro Cárdenas Tecate, Baja California 1919
Calexico West CAL Cesar Chavez Boulevard Calexico, California Mexicali Calzada de los Presidentes Mexicali, Baja California No Trucks 1902
Calexico West Pedestrian CAL East First Street Calexico, California Mexicali Calle Agustín Melgar Mexicali, Baja California Pedestrian only 1902
Calexico East IVP SR 7 Calexico, California Mexicali Boulevard Abelardo L. Rodríguez Mexicali, Baja California 1996
Andrade AND SR 186 Andrade, California Los Algodones Ave. Mariano Lee y calle 2a. Los Algodones, Baja California 1927

Arizona–Sonora

[edit]
San Luis SLU US 95 (Main Street) San Luis, Arizona San Luis Río Colorado Calle 1 San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora No Trucks 1930
San Luis II SLU SR 195 San Luis, Arizona San Luis Río Colorado 2 Fed. 2 San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora 2010
Lukeville LUK SR 85 Lukeville, Arizona Sonoyta Fed. 8 (Benemérito de las Americas) Sonoyta, Sonora 1949
Sasabe SAS SR 286 Sasabe, Arizona Sasabe Calle Sásabe El Sásabe, Sonora 1916
Nogales–Mariposa NOG SR 189 (North Mariposa Road) Nogales, Arizona Mariposa Fed. 15D Nogales, Sonora 1973
Nogales-Grand Avenue NOG BL 19 (Grand Avenue) Nogales, Arizona Nogales Fed. 15 Nogales, Sonora No Trucks 1903
Nogales-Morley Gate NOG Morley Avenue Nogales, Arizona Nogales Plutarco Elias Calles Nogales, Sonora Pedestrians only 1913
Naco NAC D Street Naco, Arizona Naco Avenida Francisco I Madera Naco, Sonora 1900
Douglas DOU
US 191 Bus. (Pan American Avenue)
Douglas, Arizona Agua Prieta Calzada Panamericana Agua Prieta, Sonora 1914

New Mexico–Chihuahua

[edit]
Antelope Wells ANP NM 81 Antelope Wells, New Mexico El Berrendo Carretera El Berrendo-Janos El Berrendo, Chihuahua 1928
Columbus COL NM 11 (Ike Smalley Memorial Highway) Columbus, New Mexico Palomas Fed. 2 spur Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua 1902
Santa Teresa STR NM 136 (Pete Domenici Boulevard) Santa Teresa, New Mexico San Jeronimo Carretera Samalayuca el Oasis San Jerónimo, Chihuahua 1992
Santa Teresa Livestock export-import facility STR NM 136 (Binational Avenue) Santa Teresa, New Mexico San Jeronimo Carretera Anapra-San Jeronimo San Jerónimo, Chihuahua Livestock only (no trucks, no cars, no pedestrians) ?

Texas–Chihuahua

[edit]
El Paso-PDN PDN El Paso Street El Paso, Texas Santa Fe Vial Juan Gabriel Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua One-way northbound only; no trucks; two-way for pedestrians; Paso del Norte International Bridge 1898
El Paso-Stanton ELP US 85 (Stanton Street) El Paso, Texas Lerdo Calle Lerdo Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua Northbound SENTRI-only and Southbound; Stanton Street Bridge 1898
El Paso–BOTA BOA I-110 El Paso, Texas Cordova Fed. 45 (Avd. Abraham Lincoln) Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua Bridge of the Americas 1967
El Paso–Ysleta YSL Zaragoza Road El Paso, Texas Zaragoza Avenida Zaragoza Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua Ysleta–Zaragoza International Bridge 1938
Tornillo FAB FM 3380 Tornillo, Texas Guadalupe Fed. 2 Guadalupe, Chihuahua Tornillo-Guadalupe Bridge 2014
Fort Hancock FHK FM 1088 Fort Hancock, Texas El Porvenir Praxedis Guerrero El Porvenir, Chihuahua Fort Hancock – El Porvenir International Bridge; no trucks 1936
Presidio PRE US 67 Presidio, Texas Ojinaga Fed. 16 Ojinaga, Chihuahua Presidio–Ojinaga International Bridge 1917

Texas–Coahuila

[edit]
Boquillas Big Bend National Park Big Bend, Texas Boquillas del Carmen Boquillas del Carmen, Coahuila Crossing re-opened in April, 2013. Transit of the Rio Grande can be accomplished by foot, burro or rowboat. Motor vehicles are not permitted. Border crossing is staffed by NPS rangers. People entering the US must report for inspection using video kiosks. There are also border services on the Mexico side.[2] 2013
Amistad Dam ADT Spur 349 Del Rio, Texas La Amistad Fed. 2 Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila Amistad Dam; no trucks 1969
Del Rio DLR Spur 239 Del Rio, Texas Acuña Francisco Javier Mina Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila Del Río – Ciudad Acuña International Bridge 1919
Eagle Pass EGP US 57 Eagle Pass, Texas Piedras Negras Fed. 57 Piedras Negras, Coahuila Eagle Pass – Piedras Negras International Bridge; no trucks 1896
Eagle Pass II FDE South Adams Eagle Pass, Texas Piedras Negras 2 Libramiento Sur Piedras Negras, Coahuila Camino Real International Bridge 1999

Texas–Nuevo León

[edit]
Laredo–Colombia Solidarity LCB SH 255 (Camino Columbia Road) Laredo, Texas Colombia Nuevo Leon State Highway Spur 1 Colombia, Nuevo León Laredo Bridge 3
(Colombia – Solidarity International Bridge)
1991

Texas–Tamaulipas

[edit]
Laredo-World Trade LWT I-69W
US 59
Loop 20
(Bob Bullock Loop)
Laredo, Texas Nuevo Laredo Fed. 85D Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Laredo Bridge 4; no cars or pedestrians - commercial vehicles only 2000
Laredo Bridge 1 LAR Convent Avenue Laredo, Texas Nuevo Laredo Avenida Guerrero Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Laredo Bridge 1; no trucks 1898
Laredo-Juarez/Lincoln LLB I-35 BL (San Dario Avenue) Laredo, Texas Nuevo Laredo Fed. 85 (Boulevard Leandro Valle) Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Laredo Bridge 2
(Juárez–Lincoln International Bridge); no trucks
1976
Falcon Dam FAL FM 2098 Spur Falcon Heights, Texas Guerrero Blas de la Garza Falcon Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Tamaulipas Falcon Dam; no trucks 1954
Roma ROM Estrella Street Roma, Texas Miguel Aleman Avenida Venustiano Carranza Ciudad Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas Roma – Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge 1928
Rio Grande City RIO Pete Díaz Avenue Rio Grande City, Texas Camargo Boulevard Ensenada Ciudad Camargo, Tamaulipas Rio Grande City – Camargo International Bridge 1905
Los Ebanos LSE Flores Street Los Ebanos, Texas Diaz Ordaz Avenida Adolfo Lopez Mateo Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas hand-pulled ferry crossing; no trucks 1950
Anzalduas ANZ Bryan Road Mission, Texas Anzalduas Reynosa-Monterrey Highway Reynosa, Tamaulipas Anzalduas International Bridge; no trucks until 2015 2009
Hidalgo HID South International Boulevard Hidalgo, Texas Reynosa Luis Echeverria Alvarez Reynosa, Tamaulipas McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge 1905
Pharr PHR Spur 600 (South Cage Boulevard) Pharr, Texas Reynosa Av Puente Pharr Reynosa, Tamaulipas Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge 1994
Donna DNA FM 493 Donna, Texas Río Bravo Carretera Reynosa-Matamoros Río Bravo, Tamaulipas Donna – Río Bravo International Bridge
(Alliance International Bridge); no trucks
2010
Progreso PGR FM 1015 Progreso, Texas Nuevo Progreso Benito Juarez Nuevo Progreso, Río Bravo, Tamaulipas Progreso – Nuevo Progreso International Bridge 1952
Los Indios IND FM 509 (Cantu Road) Los Indios, Texas Lucio Blanco Carretera Reynosa-Matamoros Matamoros, Tamaulipas Free Trade International Bridge 1992
Brownsville - B&M BBM Mexico Street Brownsville, Texas Matamoros Las Americas Matamoros, Tamaulipas Brownsville & Matamoros International Bridge; no trucks 1909
Brownsville - Gateway GTW SH 4 (International Boulevard) Brownsville, Texas Matamoros Alvaro Obregon Matamoros, Tamaulipas Gateway International Bridge; no trucks 1926
Brownsville - Veterans BRO I-69E
US 77
US 83
Brownsville, Texas Matamoros Avenida 5 de Mayo Matamoros, Tamaulipas Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates 1999

Proposed crossings

[edit]

This section lists crossings of the US-Mexico Border that are in the planning or construction phases.

United States
Port of Entry
United States
Road/Highway
City and State Mexican
Port of Entry
Mexican
Road/Highway
City and State Status
Otay Mesa East
SR 11 Toll
East Otay Mesa, California Mesa de Otay II Tijuana, Baja California This is expected to be the first toll-based border crossing on the US-Mexico border. It is planned to open in 2024.[3]

Closed crossings

[edit]
photo of closed border crossing
Closed Mexican border station at Lochiel, Arizona

This table includes only those roads where the governments of either the US or Mexico once had Customs or Immigration services.

Also included are places where certain legitimate vehicular or vessel traffic has been permitted to cross the border in recent years.

United States
port of entry
City, State Mexico
port of entry
City, State Notes
San Ysidro - Virginia Avenue San Ysidro, California El Chaparral Tijuana, Baja California For many years, all trucks entering the U.S. from Tijuana were inspected at this border crossing just west of the Interstate 5 crossing. It closed in 1984 when the Otay Mesa Port of Entry was completed, and where all truck traffic from Tijuana is now inspected.
Campo Campo, California Encinal Encinal, Baja California Once a popular crossing for tourists in the early 1900s, this crossing was permanently closed during World War II
San Miguel Gate Sells, Arizona El Bajío El Bajío, Sonora This crossing, also known also as "the Gate" has never been a legal border crossing for most people. Nomadic Native Americans are permitted use this gate to traverse their land on both sides of the border.
Lochiel Lochiel, Arizona Santa Cruz Santa Cruz de Noria, Sonora Station of Nogales which closed in 1983 due to lack of traffic. Both border inspection buildings remain.
Anapra Sunland Park, New Mexico Anapra Anapra, Chihuahua Located just 2.4 miles west of the New Mexico-Texas-Mexico tripoint, this crossing was constructed in 1971 with funds from the New Mexico and Juárez governments, with the vision of creating economic development by luring traffic from the busy El Paso crossings. However, with pressure by politicians from Texas who stood to lose liquor tax revenue, the US government refused to staff it. It is unclear if the port ever officially opened. The Mexican federal inspection canopy still stands today.
Cordova El Paso, Texas Córdova Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua When the waters of an 1897 Rio Grande flood receded, the river was found to have changed course, resulting in 386 acres of Mexican territory called "Córdova Island" situated north of the river. Boundary markers and a fence were eventually deployed. In 1959, a border crossing opened on the East side of the island. In 1963, Presidents Kennedy and Ordaz signed a treaty that settled the Chamizal dispute which redistributed land in the area between the US and Mexico. The location where the Córdova crossing was situated (which used to be the only Texas-Mexico border crossing not at the Rio Grande) now lies on Mexican land, on the campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez. The crossing closed in 1967 when the new Bridge of the Americas crossing opened, where the new Rio Grande channel and new boundary was established.[4]
Fabens Fabens, Texas Caseta Caseta, Chihuahua Fabens was a small border crossing ten miles east of El Paso, Texas. It opened in 1938, and closed on November 17, 2014, when the new Tornillo Port of Entry opened nearby. The Fabens-Caseta International Bridge was too small to handle commercial traffic, and local business interests pressed for an alternate route from the busy commercial crossings in El Paso.
Heath Canyon Heath Canyon, Texas La Linda La Linda, Coahuila The La Linda International Bridge crossing opened in 1964, primarily to serve the Dow Chemical facility on the Mexican side. It was closed to legal traffic in 1989, but was prone to smuggling. The bridge was barricaded in 1997, and it remains in this condition today. Mexico had a border inspection station at this crossing, but the US did not.
San Ygnacio San Ygnacio, Texas San Ignacio San Ignacio, Tamaulipas A motor boat served as a passenger ferry during the 1950s and 1960s. The US Customs Service operated a border inspection station during those years.[5]
Zapata Zapata, Texas Guerrero Guerrero, Tamaulipas Suspension toll bridge was opened in 1931. In 1954, Falcon Dam was completed, and the rising waters left the old town of Zapata, along with the US Customs station and the bridge itself at the bottom of the Falcon International Reservoir. A new town center was constructed on higher ground outside town.[6]
Mercedes Mercedes, Texas Río Rico Río Rico, Tamaulipas The Thayer Bridge (also called the Río Rico Bridge) was built in 1928 and opened up the Mexican border town of Río Rico as a tourist destination during prohibition with bars and even a casino.[7] The crossing was located about two miles (3.2 km) downstream from where the Progreso bridge would later be built. The bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1941. After its destruction, temporary access was provided by ferry and pontoon bridge, but all service had ended by 1946. In 1967, it was discovered that Rio Rico had actually been located on US soil all along, and in 1970, the land was officially ceded to Mexico. Approximately 1000 people who provided evidence they were born in Río Rico over the years were given US citizenship.[8]

Rail crossings

[edit]
Rail tracks on Boulevard Adolfo López Mateos in Mexicali leading north to the border crossing at Calexico
Baja California–California
Mexico
rail company
Mexico
nearest community
United States
rail company
United States
nearest community
Notes
BJRR Tijuana SDIY San Ysidro Operated along the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway's Main Line.
FXE Mexicali UP Calexico Rail tracks lie within the median of the road crossing from Fed. 5 to SR 111.
A Union Pacific train travels under a bridge in Nogales, Sonora headed to Arizona, 9 June 2007
Sonora–Arizona
Mexico
rail company
Mexico
nearest community
United States
rail company
United States
nearest community
Notes
FXE Nogales UP Nogales Rail tracks lie within the median of the road crossing.
Chihuahua–Texas
Structure Mexico
rail company
Mexico
nearest community
United States
rail company
United States
nearest community
Notes
EP&SW bridge FXE Ciudad Juárez UP / BNSF El Paso There are two railroad bridges over the Rio Grande that lie to the west and east of Paso del Norte International Bridge.
Presidio–Ojinaga International Rail Bridge FXE Ojinaga TXPF Presidio Bridge is temporarily closed due to a fire.
Bridge of the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad as it appeared in the late 1960s
Coahuila–Texas
Structure Mexico
rail company
Mexico
nearest community
United States
rail company
United States
nearest community
Notes
Union Pacific International Railroad Bridge FXE Piedras Negras UP Eagle Pass
Tamaulipas–Texas
Structure Mexico
rail company
Mexico
nearest community
United States
rail company
United States
nearest community
Notes
Texas Mexican Railway International Bridge KCSM Nuevo Laredo KCS Laredo
Brownsville & Matamoros International Bridge KCSM Matamoros UP Brownsville The road and rail bridges are adjacent, go by the same name, and are partially owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.[9]

Closed rail crossings

[edit]
The El Paso City Lines (subsidiary of National City Lines) trolley leaves the border headed to Juárez in the 1960s
Baja California–California
Mexico
rail company
Mexico
nearest community
United States
rail company
United States
nearest community
Notes
BJRR Lindero PIRR Division The railroad line runs through Tunnel 4 across the border and the former Tunnel 3 to the south.[10] Rail service over the border including Pacific Southwest Railway Museum's Ticket to Tecate passenger train was suspended in 2009 due to a fire in Tunnel 3. This section of the line is undergoing reconstruction, which includes the daylighting of Tunnel 3 and rebuilding Tunnel 4's west portal.[11] This crossing lies along the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway's Desert Line.
Inter-Cal Algodones SP Andrade Southern Pacific owned Inter-California Railroad ran thru until the late 1950s when the line between Algodones Mexico and Araz Jct. connecting to the "Sunset Route" was shut down.
Sonora–Arizona
Mexico
rail company
Mexico
nearest community
United States
rail company
United States
nearest community
Notes
FXE Naco EPSW Naco The Ferrocarril Naco-Cananea was built around 1900 as a mining railroad. The rail line used to lie between South Pratt Avenue and South Friend Drive in Arizona.
FXE Agua Prieta EPSW Douglas Rail tracks lie just to the west of Avenida Ferrocarril (Railway Avenue) in Agua Prieta and to the west of Pan American Avenue (US 191) in Douglas. The line was used by the Phelps Dodge Corporation for mineral transport. Jesús García died along this line in 1907.
Chihuahua–Texas
Structure Mexico
rail company
Mexico
nearest community
United States
rail company
United States
nearest community
Notes
Paso del Norte Bridge, Stanton Street Bridge Ciudad Juárez National City Lines El Paso Trolley line ran through city streets including the border crossing until the late 1960s.
Presidio–Ojinaga International Rail Bridge FXE Ojinaga TXPF Presidio Bridge is temporarily closed due to a fire and is expected to reopen.

Ferry crossings

[edit]
Hand-Pulled International Ferry at Los Ebanos, Texas, (view from Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas)
Tamaulipas–Texas
Waterway Ferry company Mexico
ferry terminal
United States
ferry terminal
Notes
Rio Grande Los Ebanos Ferry Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Los Ebanos This is a hand-operated cable ferry.
Veracruz–Alabama
Waterway Ferry company Mexico
ferry terminal
United States
ferry terminal
Notes
Gulf of Mexico CG Railway Ferrosur Port of Coatzacoalcos in Coatzacoalcos Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks in Mobile MV Bali Sea and MV Banda Sea are train ferries that ply the 1,400-kilometre (870 mi) route carrying freight railcars.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "9 FAM 102.5 POST CODES; NATIONALITY CODES; AND PORT-OF-ENTRY CODES". fam.state.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  2. ^ "Visiting Boquillas - Big Bend National Park (U.S. National Park Service)".
  3. ^ S, Melissa; Oval • • (20 October 2020). "Massive Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Project Making Progress". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  4. ^ Morales, Fred (2002). Cordova Island. El Paso, TX: El Paso/Juarez Historical Museum.
  5. ^ Fish, Jean Y (1989). Brief History of San Ygnacio. Zapata, TX: Zapata County Historical Commission. p. 21b.
  6. ^ "1000 Square Miles of Unique History". Zapata County Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  7. ^ Grubb, Roda. "The Strange Case of Rio Rico" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  8. ^ Castillo, Mariano (June 20, 2004). "Border town's story has more twists than Rio Grande". Rio Grande Valley Bureau. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  9. ^ "About Us". Brownsville & Matamoros Express Bridge. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  10. ^ Ph.D., Reena Deutsch (10 January 2011). San Diego and Arizona Railway: The Impossible Railroad. Arcadia Publishing. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-4396-4047-0.
  11. ^ "Ticket to Tecate". Pacific Southwest Railway Museum. Retrieved May 17, 2016.