There have been many comments / stories on recent travel to Mexico. This post is dedicated to Travel to Mexico. Some Mexico specific comments have been moved here for further discussion.
Also see:
Living with 290 – Traveling to Cabo San Lucas
Sharing More Information Will Enable Federal Agencies to Improve Notifications of Sex Offenders’ International Travel – United States Government Accountability Office, February 2013 (Highlights)
International Tracking of Sex Offenders Working Group – An interim report of the collaborative effort to develop a system for tracking registered sex offenders as they depart and enter the United States, as required by 42 U.S.C. 16928 (White Paper) – developed by representatives of the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and Department of Defense offenders as they depart and enter the United States, as required by 42 U.S.C. §16928, December 2010
Current Situation Results in Thousands of Passports Issued to Registered Sex Offenders – United States Government Accountability Office, June 2010 (Highlights)
Regarding the Angel Watch program and the purpose behind what is happening for international travel and RSOs. We tend to look at everything as though it centers around us. I am of the opinion that we are just a step in a larger plan. Rather than looking at government trying to restrict our travel, consider that the U.S. government is trying to restrict (control) all travel by U.S. citizens. In countries like China, a person cannot travel from one province to another without getting written permission from the government. Consequences are very high for not complying. The message is “resistance is futile.” But the U.S. cannot start restricting the travel rights of the average American citizen. So what does the government do? Start with restricting a class or group of citizens that most people would agree should be restricted. That’s us, folks. Who is going to make a big stink about preventing registered citizens from international travel. See anyone out there fighting for our rights? A good salesman knows that you initiate any sale by getting the prospective buyer to agree with you. You ask questions where the obvious answer is “yes”. The more times you can get the buyer to say “yes”, the more likely they will say yes when you try to close the deal.
Okay, America, we should restrict the travel of all those sex offenders. Right? —- Yes
We should restrict the travel of any felons. Right? — Yes
We should restrict the travel of anyone who owns a gun, because they must be violent. And we should warn other countries about them. Right? — Yes
We should restrict anyone who disagrees with what we say, because they might infect other countries with their crazy ideas of personal freedom. Right?
My point exactly. Thanks for chiming in, David.
in my view, illegal aliens have more rights than I do. Seriously, any illegal alien with a green card, can travel internationally back to their home country and come back to the US as much as they want.
Let me get this straight: For a simple 2001 misdemeanor sex offense by statute, for an “ATTEMPT criminal sexual act” because someone was 4 months shy of their 17th birthday, and F******* lied about their age, I am restricted from working in the US and leading a normal life like everybody else.
And now, I am restricted from traveling to another country to work and lead a normal life, because?
Am I supposed to love my country after all of this? I’m really beginning to understand now why so many people dislike the United States. Anyway, sad to say that I really don’t feel that this is “my country” anymore.
“Copy and paste this and send it to all of us”
God bless you!
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Alert act now!
The U.S. Senate passed International Megan’s Law with amendments and sent it back to the U.S. House of Representatives for approval.
The Senate passed HR 515 formerly known as “International Megan’s Law” with another NEW title “InternationalMegan’s Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders” and added a section about passports.
Essentially, all current passports for folks CONVICTED of a sex offense/s MUST be reissued, with the words “SEX OFFENDER” prominently displayed on the passport. And all new passports for folks convicted of sex offenses will be issued with same wording.
The Senate also added a section for appropriating funding ($6,000,000) for each of these years (2017-2019) to implement International Megan’s Law.
Advocates and their families and others need to immediately contact their U.S. House Representatives and object to the entire IML bill (and concept), and any other similar bills that may arise.
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With reference to Mexico, does anyone have a success story using an attorney in Mexico? Any specifics on the process? I was looking for specifics that have actually occurred and not guessing. I want to be legal.
I do know that in many cases, a registrant can walk or drive across the border, but to move past the free zone, a visa is needed. I have been turned back twice, first by air and then a second time as I attempted to get a tourist visa at the border. Any help would be very much appreciated.
Actually, you are not allowed within the “free zone”. Per Mexico law, you have been deported.
“Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118)”
If you enter the country, even in the so-called “free zone”, you can be arrested and charged.
Also, you may be surprised to learn that the border is tightening up a bit. In fact, CBP is now scanning people as they cross into Mexico.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-checks-foreign-border-crossers-with-eye-scans/ar-BBpGTPv
I’m not a lawyer, but there’s my two cents. Flat out, I wouldn’t even consider crossing over; especially having already been rejected from the country before. Just not worth spending 10 years in a Mexican prison over.
Yes this thread is still about Mexico.
Things are looking up!
i live in mexico inside the free zone. rosarito is where i live. i bought my passport worried that they would never give it to me before i crossed into mexico. a week later they gave me my passport. i was panicking as i walked across the pedastrian crossing saw some military dark skinned guys. heart throbbing worried i would be stopped and questioned. nobody paid any attention to me. and i was across the border and into mexico. been living in mexico for a year now. no problems. police don’t care if you have a visa or not. though the city is one of the most hostile cities i have ever been in my life. 30 to 60 minutes south of tijuana is where i live. not nice people at all here in mexico though. rude, disrespectful, you name it. moved recently into a big 275 per month apartment. living room, kitchen, shower and bedroom. i am here because i don’t want to go back to U.S.S.A because of no freedom. here in mexico there is freedom. now there is a new facility where there is more security walking into mexico and have to have passport and all. i dont know about driving in. one commentor here said it’s no problem no worries. i came in when they where so laxed that they did not care to check up on background or anything. saving money planning to fly out to singapore or japan. my charge is sexual battery; groping a woman’s butt. misdemeanor. don’t know if this offense is under international megan’s law or not.
PW. If you go to Japan when you go through Immigration you will have your thumb print scanned. In about 5 seconds the Immigration officer will have your whole record in front of him. Japan is hooked up with the FBI’S NCIC criminal data base. Then it is up to him if he let’s you in or not. As for Singapore, they are setting up thumb print scanning in Immigration. They now scan at the ferry terminals and are setting up the scanners at the airport. And here’s a new one. Also when you get off the plane in Singapore, they now have facial scanners set up to scan the passengers. And I know this because I come to Singapore about 3 times a year and I am here now. And there have already been US RSO’S denied entry here because of the green notices. I am here to find my wife and children. They left me back in February because of IML. Our wonderful government will not let my family in the states because of the AWA so they are here somewhere in Singapore or a resort Island in Indonesia which I am going to tomorrow. My crime was 28 years ago. And I found out the jerk off court system we have in the US is supposedly that you are innocent until proven guilty but actually if it’s a sex crime you are innocent until.you run out of money
I keep reading there is a Mexico-side law prohibiting RCs from being in Mexico, but I can’t find it. Is there a link to it, or anything? My brother-in-law just managed to travel without issue to Taiwan for a week with his wife, and barely suffered the inconvenience of a 1-minute “interview” for special processing.
Bolstered by that, he and my prettier-half swear I should just go to Mexico; what’s the harm, right? A slight delay, no worries. Right?
So… Any proof there’s a real risk, not only for myself (who is overly-cautious), but for him? As a side note, I feel he has an easier chance of travel since his was an “attempted assault”, whereas mine involved a minor (I was one, as well, but still…)
Does anyone have anything new to share about their travel to Mexico?
I know that someone had posted about being denied entry into Cancun for their honeymoon, but his post was misplaced.
Paul Rigney has also developed the “Mexican Travel Committee”
Is this Thread where we should expect updates regarding that?
My husband on October 12 got sent home from Cozumel, although we have traveled there before and to Jamaica last febuary and Cabo the year before that and had no problems except in Cozumel both times but the first time 4 years ago he got in, anyways my question is he is off the registry in 3 1/2 years will he be able to travel to these places when he no longer has to register???
I invite all who have had problems entering Mexico to contact us at latintravel@registranttag.org.
We are a part of the Registrant Travel Action Group. Check the website as we are attempting to devise strategies and procedures to facilitate travel.
PK give us a shout.
Hi, so from what I gather here is that RSO can still go into mexico by crossing the border, then from there fly to Cancun, etc. correct? I understand I still have to do the 21 days notification, will that cause any issues? Meaning what do I tell them? I’m going to cross the border to Mexico and fly to Cancun, then fly from Cancun back to the US?
I see no one has replied to your question, so I will try….
If you walk across and present your passport, you will probably be denied entry to Mexico…it is possible you will drive across without being thoroughly checked…and then fly down to Cancun successfully.
I would however not fly Cancun to the US, rather reverse the process at the border.
To put a finer point on this, I would not attempt such travel at this time….in a year or so things might be considerably clearer…and between now and then, I am purposefully keeping myself off as many possible lists as possible.
But who knows? Just be aware than many, many people have been arrested or turned back by the Mexican authorities.
Regardless, good luck to you on however you decide, (though you now have a corresponding duty to let us know).
Best Wishes, James
PS The 21 day notice seems to make all of this even more problematic…but it is your decision.
If your in a state that tiers the registry and you’re no longer on it….
If you haven’t used your passport since 2008….
You think flying to Mexico is ok?
yes,
lots of helpful threads here for us RSo’s n this incredible travel ban, im writting to ask if anyone has any information on the border crossings in arizona. im a us citizen convicted of a sex assault misdameanor, (internet chat conversation with a minor). . charge was 10 years ago, however in 2015 i was denied entrance to mexico through the airports.. problem is my fiance is a mexican born nacional, and is unable to obtain a visa to get int the usa, i am planning on crossing the border on foot, and i am aware passport laws are constantly changing, im under the impression that anyone entering mexcio by land or by air will be denied>? by presenting your passport at border crossings along the AZ border will be I automatically be denied access? my reason for going to mexico is to marry the love of my life, but my registration is even preventing me from doing that. . . is there any recourse>? any land borders that are sure to give me a better chance on entering mexico? i would do just about anything to marry her. . .any help from people who have crossed recently?
I will also post this in general comments tomorrow but I have some information for those that want to travel or better live in Mexico. I have been on the phone with a lawyer in Mexico that speaks great English. He said what many know in that the travel restrictions are new and Mexico lawyers are looking for ways to permit their clients to enter. The lawyer that I talked to was a specialist in constitutional law and immigration. He said that it would be best at first to fine up to three primary cases where the RC has a very sympathetic case. Like public exposure or public urination or statutory rape. It would be better yet if the “victim” was an illegal or undocumented Mexican. Also a person who is married to a Mexican citizen would be another good case.
If you are interested, please contact me at latintravel@registranttag.org.
I need help and some info….
I was given a week long vacation in Cancun as an award for 20 years of service with the company. Without knowing any better, I accepted it and plane tickets, hotel and other things were bought and paid for by the boss. Problem is, I have applied for a passport but even if I get it I know that I will not be allowed into Mexico since I am RSO, and the boss doesn’t know this. Yes, he’s an asshole too, and trying to change anything would result in stiff consequences. So I have a couple of options here. Take the week off anyway and let them “think” that I went to Cancun, or try this…. What if I were to fly or drive to Mcallen, TX and cross the border on foot. Then grab a local taxi and head to the Reynosa airport and hop on a plane to Cancun. Then I would return to Reynosa and then walk BACK across the Bridge to Mcallen and head home…. I would still have ID’s and birth certificate and anything else, just no passport. Any thoughts????? What can I expect flying between two Mexican cities being a white American citizen? Does anyone see any problems getting on or off of the planes in these cities since they are both within the country or any probs in Customs???????
On April 14th, 2016, I flew to Guadalajara for a weekend vacation with my coworker who was from Mexico. When I landed and was just getting in line at Immigrations I was a approached by an agent and I was escorted into his office and he told me that the reason I was brought here was because my name came up in the system (the alert notice)and that they were directed by the US government not to allow me into Mexico. He asked if I had a criminal record and gave him an affirmative answer and explained to him briefly. Even though the agent was just doing his job, he was courteous to me and said that he doesn’t see me as a bad person or criminal, but said that our government is doing this and later on I waited and was returned back into the states. When I got back, I contacted the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, even the FBI and nothing that they got on me except my past conviction that they know. I contacted my registration office and told them what happen and they said I was suppose to do a 21 day notification which they said was probably why I was refused entry, which I never ever knew about and no notifications were sent to let me know.
Later I did the notification for going to Lima, Peru, and on June 8, 2016, I flew on my way to my destination with my fingers crossed, and when I arrived in Lima, the same thing happened again and that I was refused entry into the country and sent back, when I got back I contacted my registration office and told them what happened and they said sorry about the experience I had, I hadn’t travel anywhere else since then after what had happened again. I learned about the RSOL and also about the IML, my wish is that someday that the IML will be repealed and the “Angel watch” would cease their operation, and hold individuals like Chris Smith accountable for getting the IML passed illegally.
I am looking for feedback on any successful legal maneuvers to enter Mexico. I am part of RTAG and the Latin Travel Group. We are trying to pool our resources and strategies to see if anyone has had some success.
Please respond if you have had any actual motions filed.
Thanks
I just talked to an Immigration attorney in Mexico. I was told that Mexico’s Guardian Angel program is an extension of the US’s Angel Watch program. According to the attorney, it is an agreement between the countries that requires Mexico to deny entry to Mexico when the USA sends an alert. This goes way beyond notification. The process here and in Mexico has lacked transparency. With the practice, the IML is only window dressing in a practical sense.
Hi All,
I just wanted to share my experience as my situation is slightly different to most on here. I am a RSO in the UK, a UK citizen and i live in the UK.
I was denied entry at Cancun almost 4 years ago when I flew in from London. Whilst lining up at Immigration, I was pulled out and taken into the office. I was asked a series of questions about my conviction by an immigration officer and 2 police officers. I was open and honest about my conviction. The officer had a report with my photograph on it – pretty much the same as everyone else’s experience on here. I was returned back to London on the same plane I arrived on.
Now, the UK does not share information with other countries about convictions unless they pose a threat. My contact in the UK confirmed to me that they did not share this information outside of our borders. The only way Mexico could have known, in my opinion, is that the US shared it. The US are aware of my conviction as i declared it whilst trying to obtain a US visa.
So it seems that not only is the US sharing information about convictions of US citizens, it’s also doing the same for other nationalities if they’re aware of it – completely unacceptable and outrageous.
Is there anyone else who isn’t a US Citizen who has been denied entry to Mexico?
Cheers.
So I was under the impression that walking in to Mexico is the best way to go in as a registrant. They won’t let my wife into the country because of registration, and I am saving money to move back to the country she is in which won’t be a problem because I have citizenship there. In the meantime we decided to meet up in Mexico, she will fly I will walk or drive. But now I am reading contradicting accounts of walking/driving to Mexico. Some say no problem and others say that they will check. Which is it? Should I cancel the trip? Should I give it a shot? Is it better to drive or walk? I know nothing is guaranteed I just need some advice, thank you.
Any recent reports of travelers being turned away from Costa Rica?
Is the Matrix going to be updated anytime soon?
What about adding a cruise section.
I’d gladly contribute if there were some attention to these issues.
Thanks.