I Went to Mexico . . .
By PLETHOS
@Plethos (13581)
United States
November 24, 2015 2:17pm CST
About two or so weeks ago, I went to Mexico, well it was the city of Mexicali, the city just on the other side of the border here. Even though I live about 22 miles from the border, iv'e never had a reason to go, and its been just over 20 years since I last went. Only reason I went was because I didn't want my girlfriend to go by herself. On the way back in, at the booth of the border agent, i was asked for i.d, only thing I had was my driver license. She asked if I had a passport, no. Birth certificate- no. Why didn't I have one or either was her next question. My reason- "iv'e never had a reason or desire to go to Mexico." Needless to say, she sent us, with the vehicle, to a "secondary inspection". It involved driving through a x-ray machine and then getting out of the car so the drug dog can sniff the vehicle. While we were waiting in the designated holding area, it looked like a dugout for a softball team, we kept joking about the whole situation. The entire procedure took about 20 minutes and in the end, I think the agent at the secondary was a bit disappointed that we were clean. I found it interesting though as to how during the whole thing, he spoke to us in spanish the entire time while we spoke to him entirely in english. I seriously need to at least find my birth certificate, I know I have it safely filed away somewhere. It's so safe, I can't even find it. :/
5 people like this
7 responses
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
25 Nov 15
I know years ago they made the rule in the US if you want to leave there you needed a passport. I have gone to California to visit my parents and I have my French passport. My mom got all of us our American passport when we were young. I have to carry this with me when I visit the US. I wanted to go across the boarder and I was warned to have my passport before I crossed. I didn't drive across but we walked. coming back was not so hard on us because we had our passport. You should think of getting one if you want to go there again.
2 people like this
@marguicha (223785)
• Chile
25 Nov 15
I had to have a passport the first time I went to the US (the first time besides my own that I was in) when I was 11 years old.
@TigerMask81 (91)
• Lubbock, Texas
29 Oct 16
@Plethos I have been to Mexico twice, both times to Juarez. I think both times where when the family went out to El Paso to see my grandparents when they where living out there. All ways found it funny that going in to Mexico there was no border agent at the booth going in. It was like no questions asked "Hey come in to Mexico, bring what ever you want here.", yet leaving border agents out the but and a million questions why we where there.
Is the ID thing (passport/Birth certificate) due to the 9/11 attacks? I ask cause the family was never asked for a passport or birth certificate when we where leaving Mexico, then again that was way before 9/11.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
31 Oct 16
@TigerMask81 - yeah, theres 2 kinds of passports. one for general land travel, and the other is if your flying into a foreign country. i should get the non flying one someday, just in case, its also cheaper to get.
1 person likes this
@TigerMask81 (91)
• Lubbock, Texas
31 Oct 16
@Plethos Well I know if I ever go down to Mexico to catch some Lucha I'll need to bring my birth certificate since I do not have a passport.
Had a buddy over in the UK that thought it was odd that I don't have a passport. Had to explain to him that I didn't travel over seas. He then brought up that I told him I've been to Mexico and Canada. I explained the trip to Mexico as passport deal was not really a huge deal. Not sure why the Canada trip wasn't a big deal with no passport since it was something like 6,7,8 months after 9/11.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
24 Nov 15
I guess that is lesson fo any of us that want to go.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223785)
• Chile
25 Nov 15
@GardenGerty All countries ask for passports or other sorts of IDs. I can go to the neighboring countries with my ID but need a passport for other countries (including yours). In fact, I also need a Visa to go to the US.
I travel a lot and wherever I go, I learn first what documents do I need to go to that country.
@marguicha (223785)
• Chile
25 Nov 15
@Plethos Maybe they will place you in jail instead of deporting you. You took a great risk.
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
24 Nov 15
well, yeah, i guess so, but lets face it, as an american, where are they going to deport me to? America right? I just dont see the point in me getting a passport if im only going to mexico once every 20 years. I also dont plan on traveling out of the states.
@marguicha (223785)
• Chile
25 Nov 15
Probably if you came to my country with no documents (a passport or whatever is needed) you´d end up in jail. And if I went to your country the same way and was caught, immigration would do about the same.
If I were you, I´d get some papers before crossing any borders again. You might find yourself in a great trouble. Mexicans treated you VERY well.
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
24 Nov 15
yes on the way back into the good ol' U.S.A. Nope, they dont ask for i.d. going into mexico, at least at this one entry that im aware of. there was 2 booths open out of almost a dozen, but the mexican agents just stood there. it was more like a traffic stop, green means go- so we went in.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
It is always important to bring valid identification cards when you are going to another place to avoid such kind of interrogation and disturbance.
