Associated Press

Adrian Roman, of Reynosa, Mexico, left, gets his passport back from a U.S. Immigration inspector after being informed his old visa is no longer valid to enter the U.S., while cousin Adolfo Roman, right, looks at the Hidalgo International Bridge, in Hidalgo, Texas on Monday.

Wednesday October 3, 2001

McALLEN, Texas - Although hundreds of Mexicans who had failed to secure new high-tech IDs were blocked from crossing the border, federal immigration agents say many more got the word to stay away.

About 2 million Mexican nationals missed the Oct. 1 deadline for converting their border-crossing cards into the new "laser visas." Many had been expecting the U.S. government to grant an extension, as some members of Congress have requested.

Immigration and Naturalization officials and other border agents stopped people hoping to make short trips into the United States Monday because they hadn't obtained the visas now necessary along the 1,962-mile U.S.-Mexican boundary in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

"We were relieved to see the word seemed to get out to most folks," said Lauren Mack, an INS spokeswoman in San Diego.

Inspectors at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego, the world's busiest border crossing, barred 136 Mexicans from entering the United States between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., Mack said.

The number turned back was a tiny fraction of the 130,000 people who cross each day at the San Diego border.

By Monday evening, a combined total of more than 200 people had been turned away from border crossings at Otay Mesa, Tecate and San Ysidro, while officials at Calexico had not allowed 145 people to enter the U.S. as of 1 p.m., Mack said.

"Thousands have crossed through ñ probably tens of thousands," said Russell Ahr, deputy district director of the INS in Arizona.

He considered that a sign that awareness of the new card was greater than authorities expected. About 100 people were turned back from the state's seven ports of entry in the first half of the day.

About 2 million Mexicans failed to convert their border-crossing cards into the new high-tech IDs by Monday's deadline. Some said they didn't know about the date. Others thought Congress had granted or would grant an extension.

Among those inconvenienced was Isabel Lopez Flores, 66, who traveled 41/2 hours from the interior town of Aldama, Mexico, so she could go to JC Penney in McAllen to buy a new pair of glasses.

"They told me this wasn't good anymore. I had no idea," Flores said, shocked, as she held up her passport.

In San Diego, Maria Isabel Gallegos, 66, a Tijuana, Mexico, resident was turned away as she tried to visit a sick daughter in the United States.

"I hope they'll give me one soon," Gallegos said.

The numbers of vehicles turned back were higher in Texas. Art Moreno, spokesman for the INS in Harlingen, said 551 vehicles, along with their occupants, and 308 pedestrians were denied entry into the United States between midnight and 3 p.m. Monday at 11 international bridges between Falcon Dam and Brownsville.

Congress mandated the use of the new cards in 1996 but has extended the deadline at least twice.

About 5.5 million of the old permits, which look like a driver's license, were issued. The new ones arrive 60 to 90 days after they are applied for and feature fingerprints and data encrypted in magnetic strips, which officials hope can prevent fraud and forgery.