What is it like crossing Tijuana border on foot?

I cross the border in Texas every day by car. However I live in Mexico and work in the US and I tell them that in response to the usual questions about what I was doing in Mexico and where I am going. Occasionally I am asked to produce some identification and a drivers license is good enough. If I have my passport with me, I give them that.

However crossing on foot with luggage is not the norm. You are probably going to be asked more specific questions about your trip. There is a very good chance they will want to see more than a DL and that your bags will be searched. Don't bring any Cuban stuff back with you and dispose of your used airline tickets or any other documents that could connect you with Cuba.

I crossed on foot at Piedras Negras/Eagle Pass with luggage after a trip to Coahuila and gave them my passport. The officer examined it very closely and commented on the number of old Cancun stamps, as well as the numerous Cuban bank stamps on pg. 16. He didn't know what they were and I said I didn't either. Just so you know Cuba has not stamped passports for the past 4 years.

I crossed the border on foot in TJ about a year or so ago and what the asked me was; "Are bringing any alcohol, medicine, which part of Mexico did you go?.

They ask for a valid identification,passport, DL, arm forces ID, ect.

I would try to limit my luggage to a backpack so I appear like a day tourist. I'd rather not present my passport but could present birth certificate/drivers license.

There is no reason they will suspect you have been to Cuba, but you will probably be asked where you went in Mexico, how long you were there and if you are bringing anything back. The less baggage you have the easier it will be. You may just be waved through without having to show anything after declaring your citizenship or you may be questioned in detail about your trip and searched. As I said, I cross everyday and the routine is never exactly the same.

But keep your luggage to a minimum and have a simple story down about where you went. The key is to not have anything in your bags or on your person that can link you to Cuba.

These days they're checking ID and asking your citizenship. A driver's license is usually sufficient, and it should be ready to show them. If you're not an American citizen, they will ask for some other type of traveling visa or whatever you have. Luggage is not a problem - they may ask you to open it and check it, but would be very cursory. There is also an x-ray machine that you'd have to put any bags, sacks, purses or luggage through. Not too many questions these days unless you're different from the norm. Most times they don't even ask the walk-across people what they've brought back.

You make it sound as if you think you need to "sneak through" ...

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<hr>so I appear like a day tourist. I'd rather not present my passport<hr></blockquote>

For whatever reason, you don't want to show your passport... to the Mexicans? or to the U.S.? I can't think of any reason to be reluctant to show it to the Mexicans. They don't care if you've been in some country not recognized by the U.S. (Cuba being the most common). Why would Aduana care if you come across with boxes or a backpack or a suitcase? As long as you have a legitimate reason to enter the country, and pay the tourist fee (and aren't smuggling guns or currency) they're usually not too concerned.

They have sometimes asked where I've planned to stay and I just say friends in Mexico City.

OK... I get it. You've been to Cuba. But why did you get your passport stamped? The Cubans don't require it. Rumor has it that the Department of Homeland Security monitors this site and has a list of all handles and their real identities. But given the thousands of Americans who visit Cuba hardly anyone is ever hassled. Usually folks who make a big deal about it.

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<hr>Rumor has it that the Department of Homeland Security monitors this site and has a list of all handles and their real identities. <hr></blockquote>

And here I thought Bob was under contract to do that for Halliburton :-)

No connection. We only bank on the same island.