According to this story from the Associated Press, going to Mexico isn’t going to be the carefree stroll it always has been.
Walking into Mexico at the nation’s busiest border crossing with the United States is no longer an uninterrupted stroll for foreigners.
Pedestrians and motorists have generally entered Mexico unencumbered along the 1,954-mile border with the United States.
Now, pedestrians going to Tijuana from San Diego at the San Ysidro crossing must choose between a line for Mexicans who walk through unchecked, and a line for foreigners who must show a passport, fill out a form and – if staying more than a week – pay 322 pesos, or roughly $20, for a six-month permit.
As goes California, so goes the nation.
Figueroa said San Ysidro is believed to be the first U.S. land crossing to have a separate line for foreigners to show passports and that it will serve as a model for others as they are upgraded.
So enjoy Juarez while it’s still relatively painless.
Your report is confusing, to say the least. I looked at the link to the AP story and see that what is happening is that, beginning now (or soon), anyone who enters Mexico must show a passport, and request a permit, evidently even for short daytime trips. Granted, that is different than it used to be, but it certainly is not different from what U. S. CBP now forces all non-citizens to do. I’d say the important take away from this is that Mexico is finally imposing on U. S. citizens the same BS that the U. S. has long imposed on Mexican citizens. Granted, it could be a pain in the whatsit, but since our own CBP has gotten so anal, it’s not been an easy proposition to come back from Juarez for a long time. On our end, blame the odious Patriot Act. On theirs, I’d say, what’s good for the goose has to be good for the gander.