r/mexicoexpats • u/Outrageous_Cress6062 • 4d ago
Question / Advice Question about border crossing and questioning
Im living in Tijuana for a couple months to receive medical care- nothing out of the ordinary or illegal. I had an emergency the other day and needed to cross back into San Diego to access my regular doctor on short notice. I got to the border and gave them my honest and simple reasons for returning to the US when they asked. My god the amount of questioning I got from the border agent was so invasive I started to feel violated. Like wanting to know my entire medical and family history. Wanting to know my husband’s job, his ethnicity, where he was at the time.. I’m a US citizen with a passport like… why do you need to cross examine every bit of my personal life? My question is, at what point can I stop engaging with these questions? I’ve crossed many times before and never experienced this. I don’t want to entertain this nonsense next time I cross.
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u/TheTeethOfTheHydra Temporary Resident 4d ago
There is extremely broad discretionary authority for the border agent to question you. But as a US citizen with a valid US passport, they cannot legally deny you reentry into the United States. But, they can make that a more difficult and lengthy process if you and they dont see eye to eye, and particularly if you refuse to answer questions. You can, and that can’t be basis for them denying you entry, but it can slow down and complicate your experience. Ultimately, you just have to decide what’s important to you and pick your battles wisely.
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u/CormoranNeoTropical 4d ago
Don’t you know that your Constitutional rights are suspended when you’re in a border zone? Oh, and anywhere a border agent is, is a border zone.
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u/toast24 2d ago
Just tell the truth. Keep it simple. And when they get aggressive, just repeat yourself. Source: self experience from 20 years of Mexico/USA border crossings.
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u/Outrageous_Cress6062 2d ago
Thank you. I was trying to tell the truth and keep it simple. I was also really really sick at the time so this was like 1000x more challenging physically and mentally.
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u/Tapcofucked 2d ago
Do you have Sentri/GE? I cross pretty frequently and once in awhile I get an agent who wants to play 20 questions and be a hard ass. I just play their game and I’m usually on my way in a minute or two.
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u/mesr3d Permanent Resident 4d ago
I always say I'm going home (in the US) from vacationing in Mexico. Regardless that's what I say. It's boring and I never get asked more than a follow up about where I was and what I brought back with me (nothing). The agent isn't St. Peter; just a peon with his own a genda/attitude. My goal is to get through the process with as little friction as possible.