LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Andres Garcia,

LAREDO, TX— The City of Laredo for the past 24 years has welcomed Paisanos, Mexican citizens, returning home from cities throughout the U.S. and Canada, with a brief pause during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year will be no exception, the unique bi-national project available only in Laredo, Texas will provide an array of services. The City of Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau works with the Mexican Consulate General; however, there are many city, state and federal departments and agencies from both sides of the border who come together to help the Paisanos.

This year the operation will change, as the city will not have the traditional rest stop on MM13, however the services will continue to be provided and in partnership with Mexican agencies including Mexican Immigration at the Sames Auto Arena on December 18, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

“We look forward to welcoming the Paisanos back to Laredo and together with several agencies provide the services they need for a successful holiday trip”, said Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau Director, Aileen Ramos.

Additional information provided at the Arena includes:

Hotel and restaurant listings;
U.S. Customs regulations for return trip;
Legitimate nationalization processing business listing;
Complaint and crime reporting procedures with Mexican Consulate and local agencies;
Mexican immigration and consular regulations and forms;

The staff from the City of Laredo, Mexican Consulate and the different agencies participating will be onsite providing helpful information and assisting in any way possible to help make their stop at the rest area a pleasant one.

Local, state and federal officials patrol the roadside on IH-35 South, to offer assistance to Paisanos that need help, including security, traffic control, and roadside assistance. Paisanos traveling to Mexico through Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas should take Bridge I to avoid traffic congestion along IH-35 at Bridge II. Motorists exit Del Mar Exit #4 to Santa Maria Avenue; follow it south to Bridge I, as they arrive closer to downtown. Additional signage will be in place routing them through to the international bridge.

Along the alternate route to Bridge I, off Santa Maria Avenue, portable bathroom facilities at various locations along the route that will be marked with specific Paisano signage. Paisanos wishing to avoid congestion all together can take Colombia Solidarity Bridge (Bridge III) into Nuevo Leon, MX. The extended holiday hours of operation for Bridge III will be December 15, opening at 8:00 a.m. and continuous until December 18 at midnight or until all the traffic clears. Colombia Solidarity Bridge normal business hours are from 8:00 a.m. to midnight.

For regular AVI motorists who cross daily, there will be a special designated crossing route for them to take to Bridge II, to avoid the downtown Paisano and shopping traffic congestion.

Local motorist should be aware of the additional holiday traffic in the upcoming days and exercise caution and patience when traveling in the downtown areas and around major retail centers.

For up to date changes to laws regarding Mexican citizens returning home to Mexico for the holidays and vehicle importation laws, as well as, for U.S. or other foreign nationals traveling into Mexico, concerning the documents they must have to facilitate this process, please consult Mexican authorities. For more information, follow the link https://www.gob.mx/paisano for up-to-date and accurate information.

About the Paisano Operation, Paisanos should call the Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-361-3360 or visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/welcomepaisanostoLaredo. Mexican authorities are also on-line at www.gob.mx/inm or social media Facebook & Twitter @progamapaisano.