El Paso, Texas - The city of El Paso is expecting to host a large number of college football fans from around the country who will be in town to attend the annual Sun Bowl football game Dec. 31. Historically some college football fans visit neighboring Juarez, Mexico during their time in El Paso. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is reminding the visiting Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Miami Hurricanes fan base that there are a number of border crossing requirements they need to be aware before venturing across the international boundary.
U.S. citizens returning at an international land border crossing like El Paso must present a U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document to enter the United States. For more information on the U.S. passport card or other WHTI compliant documents, please visit the CBP GetYouHome website.
CBP is also reminding out of town visitors that there are a number of items available in Mexico which are prohibited in the U.S. Some items commonly seized by CBP officers include pork products, a variety of agricultural items, items made from the skins of endangered species, Cuban cigars and more. There are also import limits on legal items like alcohol and tobacco.
"We encourage visitors to educate themselves in advance by reading the CBP 'Know Before You Go' traveler guide which is available on our website," said Ana Hinojosa, U.S. Customs and Border Protection director of Field Operations in El Paso. "It is also important that travelers declare all items they acquired abroad to CBP officers when they arrive for inspection. Knowing what is allowed and what is not can help travelers avoid fines and penalties when they return to the U.S."
CBP's Know Before You Go guide can be found on the CBP Know Before You Go website. For more information, please visit CBP's Know Before You Go website.
And although it is outside CBP's area of responsibility, international travelers often ask CBP officers about any tips they may have to offer about countries the traveler plans to visit. This type of inquiry is handled by the U.S. State Department, which has information for U.S. residents planning foreign travel, including safety and security recommendations. For more information, please visit the State Department website.
CBP Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers' primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws.