Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1903-1957

Source Information

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. Specifically, this database covers the following ports, years, and records:

• Ajo, Lukeville, and Sonoyta, Arizona (Jan. 1919-Dec. 1952) and Los Ebanos, Texas (Dec. 6, 1950-May 26, 1955)


• Index to Manifests of Aliens Admitted for Permanent Residence, Jan. 1, 1919–June 30, 1924


• Manifests of Aliens Admitted for Permanent Residence, Jan. 1, 1919–Jun. 30, 1924


• Manifests of Aliens Admitted for Permanent Residence and Aliens Readmitted as Returning U.S. Residents, Jul. 1, 1924–ca. Dec. 1952


• Manifests of Aliens Admitted Temporarily, Jul. 1, 1924–ca. Dec. 1952


• Los Ebanos: Applications for nonresident Alien’s Border Crossing Identification Cards, Dec. 6, 1950–May 26, 1955.

• Douglas, Arizona (Jul. 1908–Dec. 1952)


• Nonstatistical manifest cards and statistical index cards (interfiled)

• Douglas, Arizona (Sept. 10-1906-Oct. 10, 1955)


• Manifests of permanent, temporary, statistical, and nonstatistical alien arrivals


• U.S. citizen arrivals and records of aliens excluded from admission, Jul. 3, 1911-May 7, 1924.

• Naco, Arizona (1908-1952)


• Index to statistical manifests, nonstatistical manifests, and agricultural laborer manifests (all interfiled), 1908–1924


• Statistical manifests, May 1908–Jun. 1924


• Manifests of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jul. 1924–ca. Dec. 1952


• Manifests of aliens admitted temporarily, Jul. 1924–ca. Dec. 1952

• Nogales, Arizona (Jul. 1905-1952)


• Index to statistical manifests interfiled with nonstatistical manifests, ca. 1905-ca. 1926


• Statistical manifests, Jul. 5, 1905-Oct. 1924


• Aliens admitted for permanent residence and applications for resident alien border crossing identification cards, Jul. 1924-1952


• Aliens admitted for temporary visits, 1927-1952


• A few U.S. citizen arrivals are also included

• San Luis, Arizona (Jul. 24, 1929-Dec. 1952)


• Manifest records of aliens admitted for permanent residence


• Manifest records of aliens admitted for temporary visits

• Sasabe/San Fernando, Arizona (1919-1952)


• Index to Statistical Manifests, Jan. 1, 1919-Jun. 30, 1924


• Statistical and Permanent Manifests, Jan. 1, 1919-Jun. 30, 1924


• Manifest Records of Aliens Readmitted as Returning U.S. Residents, Jul. 1, 1924-1952


• Nonstatistical and Temporary Manifests, 1927-1952


• Statistical and Permanent Manifests, 1919

• Andrade and Campo (Tecate), California (1910-1952)


• Statistical and nonstatistical manifests, and related index cards, of permanent and temporary alien arrivals

• San Ysidro (Tia Juana), California (Apr. 21, 1908-Dec. 1952)


• Statistical and Nonstatistical Manifests Interfiled Alphabetically, Apr. 21, 1908-Dec. 1952


• Statistical and Nonstatistical Manifests Interfiled Chronologically, Apr. 21, 1908-Jun. 30, 1924


• Nonstatistical Manifests, Dec. 7, 1923-Jun. 30, 1924, of Head Taxes Transferred to Regular Fund, Jul. 1924-Feb. 1925, and Head Taxes Refunded, Jul. 1, 1924-Nov. 29, 1924

• Columbus, New Mexico (1917-1954)


• Statistical Manifests, Feb. 2-4, 1917 and ca. July 1, 1924-ca. Sept. 30, 1952


• Statistical Index Cards and Statistical Manifests, ca. 1917-ca. 1944


• Nonstatistical Manifests, ca. 1917-1926


• Sheet Manifests, 1919 and 1921-1924


• Admitted for Temporary Visits, 1924-1954


• Permanent and Temporary Alien Admissions, 1953-1954


• U.S. Citizen Admissions, 1924-1954


• Applications for Nonresident Alien’s Border Crossing Identification Cards, ca. 1945-ca. 1952

• Brownsville, Texas (Feb. 1905-Mar. 31, 1957)


• Index to Statistical Manifests, Feb. 1905-Mar. 1952, interfiled with Nonstatistical Manifests, Feb. 1905-Nov. 1929


• Statistical Manifests, Feb. 1905-Mar. 1952


• Nonstatistical Manifests, Dec. 1929-Jun. 1953


• Passenger and crew lists of vessels (Mar. 24, 1931–Mar. 31, 1957) and airplanes (Dec. 1, 1954–Mar. 31, 1957). Both U.S. citizens and aliens are included.


• Lists of outbound passengers and some lists of arrivals at Port Arthur and Port Isabel, Texas (1950s)

• Eagle Pass, Texas (Jun. 1905-Jun. 1953)


• Card manifests of alien temporary and nonstatistical arrivals (Jul. 1, 1928-Jun. 1953)


• Manifests of permanent and statistical arrivals (Jun. 1905-Jun. 1953)

• El Paso, Texas (May 1909-Oct. 1924)


• Manifests of statistical alien arrivals

• El Paso, Texas (ca. Jul. 1924-Dec. 1954)


• Applications for Nonresident Alien's Border Crossing Identification Cards (ca. Jul. 1945-Dec. 1952), with the majority of the applications made between 1948 and 1952


• Card manifests of aliens granted temporary admission to the U.S. (ca. Jul. 1924-Dec. 1954)


• A few U.S. citizen arrivals and records of exclusion of aliens are also included

• Fabens, Texas (Jul. 1924-1954)


• Manifest records of aliens admitted for temporary visits, Jul. 1, 1924-1954


• Manifest records of aliens admitted for permanent residence, Jul. 1, 1924-Jul. 27, 1952


• Applications for Nonresident Alien's Border Crossing Identification Cards, ca. 1945-Dec. 24, 1952

• Fort Hancock, Texas (1924-1954)


• Manifest records of aliens admitted for temporary visits, 1924-1954, with the majority dated from 1931-1944


• Applications for Nonresident Alien's Border Crossing Identification Cards, ca. 1945-Dec. 24, 1952


• A few U.S. citizen arrivals and records of exclusion of aliens are also be included

• Laredo, Texas (Jul. 1908-Feb. 1912)


• Manifests of nonstatistical alien arrivals (INS Form 548)

• Laredo, Texas (May 1903-Apr. 1955)


• Nonstatistical manifests and statistical index cards of alien arrivals. Some U.S. citizens are also included, May 1903-Nov. 1929


• Index cards providing information about permanent and statistical alien arrivals, Dec. 1, 1929-Apr. 29, 1955


• Nonstatistical manifests of non-Mexican aliens granted temporary admission, Dec. 1, 1929-Apr. 8, 1955


• Card manifests of aliens granted temporary admission to the U.S., Dec. 1, 1929-Apr. 8, 1955


• A few U.S. citizen arrivals and some records of exclusion of aliens are also included


• Lists of aliens arriving via the Mexican National Railroad or the Laredo Foot Bridge, Jul. 1903-Jun. 1907

• Progreso/Thayer, Texas (Oct. 1928-May 1955)


• Index to Statistical Manifests, Oct. 6, 1928-Nov. 19, 1952


• Statistical Manifests, Oct. 6, 1928-Nov. 19, 1952


• Nonstatistical and Temporary Manifests, Oct. 1928-May 27, 1955

• Rio Grande City, Texas (Nov. 1908-May 1955)


• Index to Statistical Manifests, Nov. 16, 1908-Jan. 15, 1952


• Statistical Manifests, Nov. 16, 1908-Jan. 15, 1952


• Nonstatistical Manifests, Mar. 22, 1916-May 30, 1955

• Roma, Texas (Mar. 1928-May 1955)


• Index to Statistical Manifests, Aug.13, 1929-Aug. 19, 1954


• Statistical and Nonstatistical Manifests, Mar. 1, 1928-Nov. 30, 1929


• Statistical Manifests, Aug. 13, 1929-Aug. 19, 1954


• Nonstatistical and Temporary Manifests, Mar. 1, 1928-May 30, 1955

• San Antonio, Texas (May 17, 1944-Mar. 1952)


• Statistical manifests of permanent and temporary alien arrivals by airplane

• Yseleta, Texas (Jul. 1924-1954)


• Statistical and Permanent Manifests, Jul. 1, 1924-Jul. 27, 1952


• Manifests of Aliens Admitted for Temporary Visits, 1924-1954


• Applications for Nonresident Alien's Border Crossing Identification Cards made before Dec. 24, 1952


• A few U.S. citizen arrivals and records of exclusion from entry are also included

• Zapata, Texas (Aug. 1923-Sep. 1953)


• Index to Statistical Manifests, Dec. 1, 1929-Jun. 7, 1950


• Statistical Manifests, Aug. 18, 1923-Jun. 7, 1950


• Nonstatistical and statistical cards (interfiled), Aug. 18, 1923-Nov. 30, 1929


• Nonstatistical and Temporary Manifests, Apr. 25, 1929-Sept. 10, 1952


• Applications for Nonresident Alien's Border Crossing Identification Cards, Apr. 29, 1945-Sep. 15, 1953


• A few U.S. citizen arrivals are also included

• Manifests for INS District of El Paso, Texas


• Brownsville, Texas (Jul. 1906-Jun. 1909)


• Del Rio, Texas (Jul.-Sep. 1906, Jul.-Jun. 1909)


• Eagle Pass, Texas (Jul. 1906-Jun. 1909)


• El Paso, Texas (May 1903-Jun. 1909)


• Laredo, Texas (Jul. 1906-Jun. 1909)


• Presidio, Texas (Mar.-Sep. 1908, Jan.-Apr. 1909)


• Rio Grande City, Texas (Nov. 1908, Jun. 1909)


• Aros Ranch, Arizona (Feb.-Sep. 1908, Jan.-Mar. 1909)


• Douglas, Arizona (Jul. 1906-Dec. 1910)


• Lochiel, Arizona (Jul.-Dec. 1908)


• Naco, Arizona (Jul. 1906-Jun. 1909)


• Nogales, Arizona (Sep. 1906-Jun. 1909)

In addition, the names found in the index are linked to actual images of the records, copied from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm (see Source Information for microfilm series information).

A variety of Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) forms were used to record information about individuals entering the United States. Types of forms used included: List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the U.S. Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival; Record of Aliens Arriving; Alien Laborer’s Identification Card; Land Border Departure Record; and Record of Registry. Due to the variety of forms, the amount of information available for an individual in this database will vary according to the form used and the questions asked on it. The type of information that is generally contained in this database though, includes:

• Name
  
• Age
  
• Birth date
  
• Birthplace
  
• Gender
  
• Ethnicity/nationality
  
• Names of individuals accompanied by
  
• Port of arrival
  
• Arrival date
  

Additional information about an individual may be recorded on the original document and may be obtained by viewing the corresponding image. Some records even include a photograph of the individual or their family.

The majority of the records are arranged alphabetically by surname. Some of them are arranged by Soundex code. The records can include both permanent and temporary as well as statistical and nonstatistical arrivals.