Safe to go to Nogales, Mexico?

[tijlover]

How mucha bet, someone walks into Nogales, without a passport, attempts to re-enter, and doesn't end up in one of those border prisons today, housing those who went over there without a passport?

I'll be going down to Nogales in December, passing thru Tucson, and I'm going ask as many border agents, as I can: What IF I entered Mexico and tried to re-enter the U.S. without a passport?

I did this on my last trip to Tijuana, asked 5 agents that same question. The answer? Slaps on the wrist!

I stand pat on this issue: It's unenforceable! Unenforceable!

[breakingbad]

i went to Algodones, Mexico today and on my out asked the border patrol agent if my mother who has no passport could come back with me in a week without a passport. he asked what state she was born in and I told him (MS), then said yes and she would have no problem re-entering because they cannot deny an american citizen re-entry in this great country. i'm not sure why we need passports then??? but that is my story...still, i think i'll go alone again because it just makes me nervous that she will be in a country where she has no rights without a passport.

[BlueStreakBoy]

Originally Posted by breakingbad

Ha! No problem and I was a little testy- so I apologize.

That is funny I was kinda testy/jealous when I responded as I am currently living up in freezing Oregon right now and I really miss being able to go to places like Algodones & Nogales year round. Hopefully I can get some business work in Tuscon going pretty soon as I really want to move back to AZ by the end of the year.

Out of curiosity, are you in Tuscon or Yuma?

Originally Posted by breakingbad

i went to Algodones, Mexico today and on my out asked the border patrol agent if my mother who has no passport could come back with me in a week without a passport. he asked what state she was born in and I told him (MS), then said yes and she would have no problem re-entering because they cannot deny an american citizen re-entry in this great country. i'm not sure why we need passports then??? but that is my story...still, i think i'll go alone again because it just makes me nervous that she will be in a country where she has no rights without a passport.

My guess on this is that they have essentially been forced to become more lenient on the passport rules in places like Algodones as I am sure there are Yuma snowbirds going into Algodones on a daily basis in the Fall/Winter for prescriptions and not realizing they need a passport as their main residences are in places like Colorado, Oregon & Washington. The more I think about it, it really makes sense as what are they seriously going to do, make the elderly peeps with health concerns sit on the streets or throw them in jail? It would be interesting to know what gov guidelines are the BP is following or if they are technically breaking the law by letting peeps through without a passport.

[Steve Pickering]

Interesting. I have not been to Auga Prieta for some time as My Wife does not have a passport. I used to live there, but the border has changed. Same with Naco. I shopped and ate there all the time when I lived in Bisbee, and you hardly knew there was a border. It is all changed now too.

[nambis]

I have a friend coming down in November and we are considering a day trip to nogales. Can anyone tell me what neat things we could do there?

[tijlover]

I consider how you project yourself, while there, in enhancing your safety, never showing any fearfulness, which, some times, isn't the easiest task to accomplish. But as you walk about the city, and see other fearless Americans there, that should enhance your feeling of being more secure. Last time there, on entering Nogales, I talked to 2 senior women, from Green Valley, going over there for dental work. And if they show no fear of going there............................................. ....

For fun? Myself, I love nursing a drink in a bar with a good jukebox, and I could sit there all night listening to Rocio Durcal, Marco Antonio Solis, Los Bukis, Juan Gabriel and others, and people watching. And look for the bars with Karaoke, and don't think every song played/sung to is going to be in Spanish! And if you prefer a loud disco and dancing, go for it!

Want a local adventure while there? There's a public transit bus stop right after you cross the border, hop on one of those local buses, and head south a ways near the cross-country bus terminals, hop off, cross the street, and within a few minutes, a return bus comes along. They're usually packed with passengers, so you may have to stand and hang onto a pole for dear life! And watch your purse and wallet!

Have fun and be safe!