Foreign citizens living in and visiting Guadalajara and the Lake Chapala area are being advised to carry their original immigration documents while traveling on public highways to avoid possible hassles if they are caught by migratory authorities without proof of legal status.
The alert issued this week by Chapala attorney Spencer McMullen stems from recent policy changes implemented by the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) aimed at detecting illegal immigrants harboring in Mexican territory. He reports that INM agents, backed up by National Guard units, have stepped up checks of travelers on many major transportation routes. Foreigners who aren’t carrying tourist or resident visas may be subject to detention by immigration personnel until their migratory status is confirmed.
The proper document for a temporary or permanent resident would be the wallet-size INM “green” card. A person who is a tourist should be able to produce a passport from his or her country of origin, plus the FMM (multiple immigration form) stamped by agency officials upon entry to Mexico. Simple or notarized photocopies of the papers, and photo reproductions stored on a cell phone may not suffice under current inspection criteria, McMullen notes.
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