Showing CHL to border patrol

[edgarou]

My family and I are driving to mexico for vacation next month.
should I show my CHL to the customs agent along with drivers license?
first time going with my CHL across the border.
there's also a border patrol check point farther away from there .

[bdsnooks]

I'm sure someone with a little more knowledge will chime in here, but you need to be REAL careful with guns in Mexico!!!!!!
CHL means nothing there.

[Commander]

A gun in Mexico is an immediate "Go to Jail" card. Good luck getting out. Leave your gun and CHL behind.

[HighVelocity]

A gun in Mexico is an immediate "Go to Jail" card. Good luck getting out. Leave your gun and CHL behind.

If you're driving across, make sure you NO AMMUNITION OF ANY KIND in your vehicle either.

[jbirds1210]

I would leave the guns on the US side of the border unless you have done some really involved research into sending guns over for a hunting trip. I would never carry into Mexico. Good luck in your search and please, be very careful!

Jason

[carlson1]

A gun in Mexico is an immediate "Go to Jail" card. Good luck getting out. Leave your gun and CHL behind.

If you're driving across, make sure you NO AMMUNITION OF ANY KIND in your vehicle either.

Yep, even the AMMO is prison! I am sure you know already, but there is a lot of murders on the other side now also. I used to preach in Nuevo Laredo twice a year until about a year ago and I was asked not come back until it became safer.

[flintknapper]

See ya in about 10 years!

[Crossfire]

You are not required to show your CHL if you are not carrying. So, I think it would be best to just not.

You could ask my hubby what a pleasant experience he had when he showed his CHL as ID at the airport. He did make his flight... after he got to put his clothes back on

[edgarou]

no where did I say I was taking my gun to mexico
I'm talking about showing my CHL to customs ,and border patrol
on the U.S side. you know showing it to law enforcement when asked for I.D and all thet good stuff.

[carlson1]

You could ask my hubby what a pleasant experience he had when he showed his CHL as ID at the airport. He did make his flight... after he got to put his clothes back on

Wow! This is good info. . .

[flintknapper]

Don't even use the word "gun" in Mexico.

Bury that CHL deep in your baggage or leave it at home. Give them no reason to detain you.

Its a whole 'nother place down there. Additionally, their system of law presumes you to be guilty until proven otherwise.

Have a great time, but be careful.

[yerasimos]

no where did I say I was taking my gun to mexico
I'm talking about showing my CHL to customs ,and border patrol
on the U.S side. you know showing it to law enforcement when asked for I.D and all thet good stuff.

In a formal immigration context, the best document to show is a passport. Get one. If you hustle, you might be able to get yours issued in time for your trip.

Customs, immigration, etc people are familiar with the document and it will not raise any "red flags" as a CHL can. The way I see it, the CHL gets displayed only in those contexts where it is either required (routine traffic stop when you are carrying) or when it would obviously expedite matters (buying firearm from FFL).

A trickier matter may be getting stopped by Border Patrol agents at an improvised highway roadblock/inspection station well within the border of the US (ie, if they set one up on a deserted highway near, but not at, the border, with the purpose of finding illegal immigrants). Someone with very obvious Anglo features may be waved through without hassle. Others who look more "ethnic" may get request for "ID" and questioned. A naturalized citizen would be well advised to have their US passport handy for presentation upon request, and it would make things a lot smoother. If I was a naturalized citizen with a CHL who got stopped by green-uniformed CBP people on a highway near the border, I would probably show them the passport, DL and CHL.

GC 411.205 (displaying license; penalty) mentions peace officers; I'm not certain that (federal) CBP falls within this category, but I would assume they do until I find conclusive information that says otherwise.

However you play it, I hope you have a safe stay in Mexico, and return safely too.

[txinvestigator]

no where did I say I was taking my gun to mexico
I'm talking about showing my CHL to customs ,and border patrol
on the U.S side. you know showing it to law enforcement when asked for I.D and all thet good stuff.

We would assume you would be carrying your gun, because the law requires you to show your CHL to a peace officer IF YOU ARE CARRYING your handgun, and the peace officer asks you for to ID yourself.

If you are not carrying, there would be no need to show your CHL to anyone. So why would you show it to Customs, Border Patrol or anyone else if you are not carrying?

[stash]

Good morning guys/gals - hope this comes out ok - not really familar with all the computer lingo.

If you are carrying and come upon a Border Patrol check point are you required to display CHL if the Border Patrol Agent (BPA) asks for your DL. The way I understand it BPA's are not considered peace officers in the State of Tejas. I probably would provide CHL if asked to ID.

Also is a fixed check point (the real big one right off Interstate 10 at Sierra Blanca, Tx) considered federal property. Been thru that one lots of times the last five years and just wondered when this post came up and thought I would ask.

I have been at this site for the last year or so and it is really informative and I enjoy it. Glad I finally registered.

[txinvestigator]

Good morning guys/gals - hope this comes out ok - not really familar with all the computer lingo.

If you are carrying and come upon a Border Patrol check point are you required to display CHL if the Border Patrol Agent (BPA) asks for your DL. The way I understand it BPA's are not considered peace officers in the State of Tejas. I probably would provide CHL if asked to ID.

Also is a fixed check point (the real big one right off Interstate 10 at Sierra Blanca, Tx) considered federal property. Been thru that one lots of times the last five years and just wondered when this post came up and thought I would ask.

I have been at this site for the last year or so and it is really informative and I enjoy it. Glad I finally registered.

Whether you are required to show your CHL or not depends on if you are carrying. If you are not in possession of your handgun, then you do not have to show ANYONE your CHL.

Texas Government Code

§411.205. Displaying license; penalty.

(a) If a license holder is carrying a handgun on or about the
license holder's person when a magistrate or a peace officer demands
that the license holder display identification, the license holder
shall display both the license holder's driver's license or
identification certificate issued by the department and the license
holder's handgun license. A person who fails or refuses to display
the license and identification as required by this subsection is
subject to suspension of the person's license as provided by Section
411.187.

BP are not Texas Peace Officers, but they are Special Investigators, and have the powers of arrest, search and seizure as to felony offenses onlyunder the laws of the State of Texas.

However, If I am carrying and a BP officer asks me for ID, you can bet I will show him my CHL and inform him I am carrying.