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Home » Under Secretary for Political Affairs » Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs » Regional Topics » Presidential Permits for Border Crossings

• Presidential Permits for U.S.-Mexico Border Crossings

Under Executive Order 11423, as amended, the Secretary of State has the authority to receive applications for and to issue Presidential permits for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of certain facilities at the borders of the United States with Canada and Mexico. Permits are required for the full range of facilities at the border, including land crossings, bridges, pipelines, tunnels, conveyor belts, and tramways. This authority applies to all new border crossings and to all substantial modifications of existing crossings at the international border.

Working with federal agencies such as the Department of Transportation, the General Services Administration, the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of State determines whether a proposed border-crossing project is in the U.S. national interest. The Department coordinates closely with concerned state and local agencies, and invites public comment in arriving at this determination. Within the context of appropriate border security, safety, health, and environmental requirements, the Department believes that it is generally in the national interest to facilitate the efficient movement of legitimate goods and travelers across U.S. borders.

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs receives permit applications for most facilities at the Canadian and Mexican borders, except:

• the Department of State's Office of International Energy and Commodity Policy for liquid pipelines,
• the Department of Energy for electrical transmission lines,
• the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for natural gas pipelines.

If you plan to submit an application for a Presidential permit for Mexico, please read a detailed description of the application process and contact us via e-mail at WHA-BorderAffairs@state.gov or via phone at 202-647-9894.

If you plan to submit an application for a Presidential permit for Canada, please read a detailed description of the application process and contact us via e-mail at WHACANmail@state.gov or via phone at 202-647-2170.

For related information, please see the Federal Highway Administration's Border Transportation Planning web site.

Notices Providing Policy and Guidance Regarding Presidential Permits

• Inclusion of Expiration Dates in Presidential Permits for International Border Crossings [74 FR 18798 (April 24, 2009)]
• Interpretative Guidance on Non-Pipeline Elements of E.O. 13337, amending E.O. 11423 [72 FR 8245 (February 23, 2007)]
• Procedures for Issuance of a Presidential Permit Where There Has Been a Transfer of the Underlying Facility, Bridge or Border Crossing for Land Transportation [70 FR 103 (May 31, 2005)]

Public Notices Related to Presidential Permit Applications

2011

• San Ysidro Permit Issuance 
• Presidential Permit: Nogales-Mariposa Border Crossing [76 FR, Number 8395 (February 14, 2011)]

2010

• Presidential Permit: San Diego-Tijuana Airport Cross Border Facility [75 FR 48408-48409 (August 10, 2010)]
• Finding of No Significant Impact: San Diego-Tijuana Airport Cross Border Facility [75 FR 43225 (July 23, 2010)]
• Notice of Receipt of Request To Amend the Presidential Permit for an International Bridge on the U.S.-Mexico Border at Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico [75 FR 39089 (July 7, 2010)]
• Issuance of an Amended Presidential Permit Authorizing the Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of a Two-Span International Bridge Near Brownsville, Texas, at the International Boundary Between the United States and Mexico [75 FR 34516 (June 17, 2010)]
• Notice of Receipt of Application To Amend the Presidential Permit for the Nogales-Mariposa International Border Crossing [75 FR14478 (March 25, 2010)]

2009

• Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed San Diego-Tijuana Airport Cross Border Facility [74 FR 68906 (December 29, 2009)]
• Review of Unused Presidential Permit: Laredo, Texas International Railroad Bridge [74 FR 65830 (December 11, 2009)]
• Review of Unused Presidential Permit: Mission (Texas) International Bridge [74 FR 65200 (December 9, 2009)]
• Review of Unused Presidential Permit: Port of Brownsville (Texas) International Bridges [74 FR 65197 (December 9, 2009)]
• Notice of Receipt of Application for a Presidential Permit for an International Pedestrian Bridge on the U.S.-Mexico Border Near San Diego, California and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico [74 FR 50997 (October 2, 2009)]
• Issuance of an Amended Presidential Permit Authorizing the Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of an International Bridge Near McAllen, TX, at the International Boundary Between the United States and Mexico [74 FR 27231 (June 8, 2009)]
• Notice of Receipt of Application for a Presidential Permit for an International Rail Bridge on the U.S.-Mexico Border near Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico [74 FR 5023 (January 28, 2009)]

2008

• Issuance of a Presidential Permit Authorizing the Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the Otay Mesa East Border Crossing Near San Diego, CA, at the International Boundary Between the United States and Mexico [73 FR 76086 (December 15, 2008)] 

2007

• Notice of Receipt of Application for a Presidential Permit To Construct a New International Rail Bridge Between Webb County, TX and Colombia, Mexico [72 Federal Register 50711 (September 4, 2007)]