Editor's Note: This story has been edited to reflect the Nov. 30 time change in Juarez, which places the city back on El Paso time.
Holidays in the Borderland bring a chance to reconnect with family and friends on both sides of the Rio Grande and an opportunity to enjoy both American and Mexican traditions — and some that are unique to the binational culture.
If you're planning to crisscross this holiday season, here are some tips for a smoother trip.
Wait, what time is it?
Not to worry, border crossers. The sister cities are finally back on the same time. For nearly a month, Juárez clocks remained an hour ahead of El Paso's, causing confusion in the Borderland.
If you think that made no sense, you're not alone. Chalk it up to politics: Chihuahua's congressional representatives made a costly — and annoying — mistake when they didn't ask for an exemption to Mexico's decision to eliminate daylight saving time, as Mexico's other border states did.
Chalk it up to politics: Chihuahua's congressional representatives made a costly — and annoying — mistake when they didn't ask for an exemption to Mexico's decision to eliminate daylight saving time, as Mexico's other border states did.
On Nov. 30, the Mexican government rectified the problem and Juárez fell back in step with Mountain Standard Time.
Bridge hours and information
Holidays bring increased traffic, and the lines at El Paso's international bridges southbound and northbound can be longer than normal.
Many El Pasoans know it can be a hassle to drive back to the U.S. after visiting Juárez, but southbound traffic over the international bridges is heavier than in the past. Traveling to Juárez outside of peak rush hours can ease the traffic headache. On weekdays, head south before 3 p.m. or be prepared to wait at least an hour to cross at any of the city's bridges.
Here are other tips to keep in mind:
- Reporte de Puentes. Before you cross north or south, consider joining the Reporte de Puentes group on Facebook. The free, private group offers a typically accurate, if often irreverent, crowd-sourced bridges report. Want to know how packed the Zaragoza bridge is right now? Or what the pedestrian line is like on the puente Santa Fe? One of the group's 314,000 members has probably posted about it in the past 10 minutes.
- CBP Wait Times. If you don't want to join the Facebook group, download the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's "CBP Wait Times" app. The app lets you check official wait times at area ports, with updates every 30 minutes to an hour.
- SENTRI and Global Entry. If you hold a SENTRI or Global Entry trusted traveler card, you're in luck. The U.S. and Mexico have increased operating hours at the Stanton/Lerdo SENTRI lane through Jan. 7. The lane will be open from 5 a.m. (6 a.m. Juárez time) Monday through Friday, to midnight El Paso time. On the weekends, from Saturday to Monday, the lane will stay open until 1 a.m. (2 a.m. Juárez time).
- Increased fees. Bring extra change, as Mexico has upped the rates at its fee-based bridges. It now costs 36 pesos to cross by car at the Santa Fe (or Paso del Norte) and Ysleta-Zaragoza bridges. To cross on foot, it cost 6 pesos at the Santa Fe bridge and 8 pesos at Ysleta-Zaragoza.
If you can avoid bringing a car to Juárez, northbound pedestrian lines at the Santa Fe bridge (or Paso del Norte), the Bridge of the Americas (or puente libre) and Ysleta-Zaragoza bridge are typically faster than passenger vehicle lanes at any of the bridges.
Foods and libations
If you are headed south of the border this holiday season and want to bring home a taste of abuelita's cooking, here are the do's and don'ts of crossing foods from Mexico to the U.S.
- Tamales and tortillas. It's generally fine to bring back cooked foods, so if you want to pack a to-go bag of your grandmother's tamales and handmade flour tortillas, go ahead.
- Chiles and salsa. Most fresh produce is not allowed into the U.S. That goes for the apple you bought at Albertson's and accidentally left in the car, and it goes for the serranos on sale at Smart in Juárez you really wish you could take back to El Paso. The good news is that you can import dried peppers, including chile de árbol or chile ancho. You can also bring back to the U.S. a Tupperware (or let's be honest: a repurposed yogurt container) filled with your favorite homemade salsas.
- Meat and cheese. Some packaged meats and cheeses are OK to cross, but it's best to declare the items and check with the customs officer. Cooked meats are generally OK, as are commercially packaged and labeled raw meats, up to 50 pounds. But if you are thinking about bringing back dozens of rolls of Mexican bologna, get a permit — otherwise your cold cuts could be seized and you could face fines.
- Beer, wine and liquor. Hoping to bring back tequila or Chihuahua-distilled sotol? You can bring in 1 liter of alcohol if you are 21 or older without paying duties. Anything more than that and you'll need to declare it and pay the corresponding duties and federal excise taxes at the port of entry. It's illegal to import alcohol if you are under 21, even as a gift.
Rules can change, however, so it's always a good idea to declare any food items when crossing through U.S. customs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture: "As long as you declare all the agricultural products you are bringing with you, you will not face any penalties — even if an inspector determines that they cannot enter the country."
For questions about crossing meat, poultry or seafood, call the USDA at 301-851-3300. USDA agents will pick up the phone and can answer specific questions. For questions about produce, call 301-851-2101.
Beyond the border zone
Mexico doesn't check the passports of U.S. citizens when crossing into Juárez, but if you plan to travel by air or by car beyond the city limits, you'll need a passport to apply for a tourist visa and a vehicle permit if traveling by road.
At the airport, visit a kiosk of the Instituto Nacional de Migración, or INAMI, to apply for a tourist card and a passport stamp.
If you are planning a road trip, stop by the INAMI offices at the Kilómetro 30 on Highway 45, also known as the Panamerican Highway, heading south to Chihuahua City. Vehicle permits also are available at the San Jerónimo port of entry, the counterpart to Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The permits cost about $60, but the Mexican government also requires a refundable deposit that can range from $200 to $400, depending on the vehicle model.
Mexican nationals with a B1/B2 tourist visa ‒ also known as a Border Crossing Card ‒ who plan to travel beyond the 25-mile border zone can apply for an I-94 permit. Customs and Border Protection is encouraging people to apply for the I-94 permit via the CBP One app. Doing so will reduce in-person waiting times for the permit at ports of entry, CBP says.
Don't forget your documents
U.S. citizens can technically return to the U.S. with a Texas driver's license or a birth certificate. However, traveling with a passport book or passport card will make crossing faster for both you and everyone in the line behind you.
Lauren Villagran can be reached at lvillagran@elpasotimes.com, on Twitter @laurenvillagran or on Instagram @fronteravillagran.
