When I first started going to Mexico, I didn't even have a passport. But I find myself taking it to TJ and Nogales with me now.

I am about as white as they get and I have little problem getting back across the border. But with stories about people being harrassed at the San Ysidro border crossing, I thought it would be a best practice to go ahead and just carry it with me now.

Now with my passport, I get across even faster as most look at for 2 seconds and then I am through, although I did have one guy actually scan it the other day.

Never had any need to carry a passport for TJ as a D.L. has always worked for me.

Harry

The INS guy gave me a lecture that I should carry a birth certificate (etc.)

He was just being an asshole, but, I now carry one.

The other night, one of the uneducated guy was in a bad mood so he stopped my friend for questioning for over an hour while I was freezing my butt outside. But that is rather rare. When you show your driver license, they have to enter your name in the central computer while with passport only need is to check photo.

They rearly either swipe my D.L. or enter my name into the 'puter. Always asked country of citizenship tho. That's always good enough. Maybe you guy just look like criminals??

Harold_Johnson,

I think you may be missing the point.

I believe the burden is on the individual to prove that he or she is a US citizen. Just a driver's license does not prove that. So if you get a customs rep in a bad mood and cannot prove your citizenship, then the customs rep can fuck with you if they want, like what happened to Athos' friend. Now if you have a passport or a birth certificate on you, then cannot as easily fuck with you.

Like I have said before, I have passed many times before without incident. I just carry one now because I have it and it makes crossing the border that much easier for me.

The *only* time I ever take a passport to TJ is when I want to get a tourist card for a later trip down south. Otherwise, the drivers' license is fine.

HJ
I am not caucasian and was not born in good old USA. I was not even born in my parents country of origin so these fuckers get confused easily. They swipe my DL most times but not all the time. The SOB went through my whole wallet last time asking me even what car I drive to verify against car insurance.

Where were you born Athos? I dont bring it because I dont like carrying around my passport in a third world country.....If I was staying at a hotel in TJ, then I would place it in a safety deposit box for my return and carry a copy of the passport. I think the best happy medium is to carry a copy of your passport and at least have your passport number memorized.

Blazers
yeah i carry a copy of my passport. I may start bringing my passport. I was born in the land where they speak tagalo.

Your FIlipino...that's way cool. I take it your parents are probably CHinese if they were not born in the PI. You will have to excuse my comments about the CHinese mafia controlling the entire economy of the PI through racism, hard work and rampant corruption....it is a sore spot for me. I do, however, not agree with the high level of kidnappings of Chinoy's for ransom. They just lifted the moratorium on the death penalty for kidnappers....much better.

I did not say I was filipino, just born there. My father was ambassador at the time. But if i meet any filipino, I always mention I was born there.