Why do Mexicans need a passport to go to the U.S. (Americans don't need one to go to Mexico)?

Is there a reliable website that explains this?

Mexicans need not only a passport but also a visitor's visa in order to travel to the United States. A visitor's visa is issued by a US consulate abroad after an interview in which the applicant convinces the consular officer that he or she has ties to Mexico that will compel him or her to return to Mexico at the conlusion of his or her journey, and thus he or she will not have a motive to remain in the United States illegally.

The reason for this policy is that many individuals will use a vacation or visit to the United States as a pretext to be allowed to enter the country, and then remain to take up residence or secure employment without having gotten the legal authorization to do so. Coming to live and work in the United States requires going through an entirely different legal process, and many people circumvent the legal system by using the strategy described above and just immigrating illegally. The US government knows this and that is why it has created strict rules for citizens of countries from which it believes one may have a motive to illegally immigrate. Some countries' citizens are under the visa waiver program and do not require a visitor visa because the US government believes that citizens of those countries are much less likely to have a reason to illegally immigrate to the United States when given the opportunity to do so while traveling. The US government does believe that Mexicans are likely to use a vacation or visit as a means to illegally immigrate given the economic disparity between their country and the US. This concern may well be compounded by the millions of persons already in the United States illegally, many of whom are from Mexico and many of whom got into the country through actions not unlike the one described above. The visa application process can be frustrating and there is no guarantee that an applicant will be approved for one. I myself once invited a friend to visit me from Mexico, and she had to apply for a visa twice to get it approved because she was denied the first time. Unfortunately, many of us pay the price for the dishonesty of others. At any rate, yes, Americans DO need passports when travelling to Mexico so that the US Immigration will allow them to re-enter the US upon their return.

In response to Queer Q: NO, going to Mexico is NOT suicidal. I have gone there multiple times for study and travel and it has been a privilege to experience its culture and the hospitality of a great many of its people. Sure, I have things I like and dislike about Mexico (and about my own country too for that matter), but I don't think it is quite fair to be so harsh on our southern neighbors.

because american's will not try and live and mexico but mexicans would try to live in the US if they could just cross the border without a passport...its just because our economy is so much better and our people have a higher standard of living....if mexican could come to the US without a passport then we wouldn't be able to enforce border patrol b/c any mexican trying to cross the US line could just come in

i really feel bad about this issue.
i find it racial discrimination

Implemented on January 23, 2007, ALL PERSONS traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.

First off, as of right now you do have to have a passport to get into Mexico via air or sea, but not for land travel yet (they are supposed to change that in 2009. But to answer the question, it's just a difference in the laws of each country.

I am an American living in Mexico...you got some good info...but to put it more concisely...Mexicns MUST have a visa to entet the U.S. A visa cannot even be applied for unless the applicant first has a Mexican passport. Americans at the present time must have a passport to fly to Mexico.l..the requirement for passports for land and sea travel has not been implemented yet. see site below and read top half of page carefully. Yes, it IS vey difficult for a Mexican citizen to get a visa to the U.S. for the reasons previously explanined.

I have an answer for Seth.

Im mexican.

United States has been less and less attractive for us for mexicans who have money. We prefer to go to Europe or Canada who dont ask visas to us. BECAUSE WE DONT ASK VISAS TO THEM. We dont travel to United states anymore, and we dont even travel through your territory by plane because your goverment has been more and more agressive toward us, Europe is a much better option to travel.

I think it is not a reason to ask for a visa just because people could stay in your country, Anyway dollar is no longer the strongest currency.

And still, with or without visa you will have the same amount of illegals, so why asking for visa? I think its a matter of business. Dont you think?

because the mexicans need go to work in usa and americans dont to work in mexico but not is just.

I just want to add that some Americans have a misconception of what Mexico is and what means to US,

The other day i was reading an answer in this forum of a lady complaining about the fact that in order to get a job in a store at El Paso Tx, she need it to speak Spanish and blaming ilegal aliens for that matter.. What she didn麓t realized is that a lot of the commerce thats going on at El Paso is thanks to Mexicans that cross the border every day legally and spend their pesos in American soil.

Also the attitude of some immigration officers while entering the States is so rude and condescending that sometimes you really won麓t like to go to the U.S.A. so often. Trying to get a visa for the same matter is really a pain in the %&%/.

Don麓t get me wrong I love to go to the U.S., specialy since for a guy my size is very hard for me to find clothes that fit me in Mexico.

But the attitude of some Americans towards Mexicans is so wrong sometimes...Even when we are spending our pesos in american soil.

Thats why many Mexicans now are not vacationing in the States anymore , and leaving to some other parts of the world where we feel welcome.

duh! Going to America is like going to a greener pasture. Going to Mexico is like suicidal.