Modern! Convenient! Fast! Historic!
Bordering Palomas, Chihuahua and located within the historic Village of Columbus, New Mexico, the Columbus port of entry is approximately 30 miles south of Deming and 65 miles west of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry.
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week the Columbus port is New Mexico's full-service port of entry. Bustling with activity and with many tourists and locals crossing daily, this recently remodeled POE remains a well-situated choice for travelers. Construction of an $80 million, new port of entry will start later in 2015 and be completed by 2018. The NMBA was instrumental in the construction of the $3.5 million bypass, the canopy to shade the tourists and the parking lot. Recently, NMBA committed $10,000 to the village of Columbus for infrastructure for a transportation study and $50,000 for a flood control feasibility study. Pedestrian walks and new infrastructure crossings are being proposed for the bordering town of Palomas, Chihuahua
Available Services at Columbus:
- Pedestrian Traffic
- Mexican Immigration Services
- U.S. Immigration Services
- Temporary Vehicle Export Permits
- Non-Commercial Traffic
- Commercial Traffic
- Livestock
- Custom Brokers
Traveling to Mexico
Palomas (pop. 5,000) is a popular tourist destination for tourists shopping for the many arts and crafts products unique to Mexico or in search of dental and optical services and pharmacies or simply seeking cultural exchange at the ever-popular "Tienda Rosa" restaurant. Visitors to Palomas can drive across the border or park for free in Columbus and walk to Palomas.
For travelers heading further into Mexico, such as to Ascension, Janos, Chihuahua City, or Casas Grandes, all necessary Mexican agencies are located at the Palomas port. It's a one-stop location to obtain Mexican tourists visas, temporary vehicle permits, and other necessary travel documentation.
Traveling to the United States
Average northbound crossing time by car is 18 minutes and with short lines, walking is even quicker. Traffic into New Mexico is greatest during the months of December and July.
The quaint Village of Columbus (pop.1,700) is rich with border history. Visitors can stay overnight at a modern RV park, view exhibits about Pancho Villa's 1916 raid and General Pershing's subsequent military campaign at two museums, one which was converted from the turn of the century railroad station that served the border region. Be sure to visit Pancho Villa State Park while in Columbus. Columbus/Palomas is also the bi-national gateway for the Mimbres-Paquime Connection, a fascinating tourist route that showcases the shared natural and cultural resources of southwestern New Mexico and northwestern Chihuahua.
Here travelers can find food and refreshments before proceeding to the nearby cities of El Paso, Ciudad Juarez, Deming, Las Cruces, Silver City, other destinations in New Mexico and surrounding states.
