🧬 Discovering Mexican Roots in El Paso: Tracing Family Across the Border
- Robin Foster
- Jul 11
- 2 min read
Dear GenFriends,
El Paso, Texas, stands as a powerful symbol of connection between Mexico and the United States. It’s more than a point on the map—it’s a vital gateway for many families tracing heritage that stretches across generations and borders.
If you have ties to El Paso County or northern Mexico, you are in a unique position to explore records that tell rich stories of migration, faith, tradition, and perseverance. The archives in this region are a treasure trove for those eager to reconnect with their past.
📚 Exciting News: My Book Is Almost Here!
I’m thrilled to share that I’ve submitted my latest book to the U.S. Copyright Office and will soon have it in hand! Mis Mejores Consejos Genealógicos: Rastreando Tus Raíces Mexicanas/My Best Genealogy Tips: Tracing Your Mexican Roots. This bilingual guide is designed to help you uncover your family’s legacy from El Paso to Mexico—and I can’t wait to share it with you.
🔍 El Paso: A Gateway to Generations
This area offers access to an impressive variety of historical documents, including:
Civil registrations from Mexico (birth, marriage, and death records)
Catholic parish registers on both sides of the border
Border crossing documentation
U.S. census and state census records
Naturalization paperwork, including Declarations of Intention
Records from the Bracero Program and more
Many of these sources are now digitized and freely available on FamilySearch.org. The El Paso County, Texas Genealogy page is a great starting point. If your roots go back before 1848, the Chihuahua, Mexico Genealogy page holds valuable records from when this region was under Mexican jurisdiction.
🧭 Getting Started on Your Journey
To begin tracing your family history in the borderland, follow these simple steps:
Write down what you already know: names, dates, hometowns, and family stories.
Search El Paso County resources including church records, land deeds, census rolls, and immigration records.
Continue your research into Chihuahua, Mexico, where many families lived before El Paso became part of the U.S.
🧒🏽👵🏼 Bilingual Activities for Children and Families
As school begins again, why not turn this season into a time of discovery for the entire family? I’ve created a bilingual list of 10 family history activities you can do with children and elders alike. These fun, easy projects help preserve stories and strengthen intergenerational bonds. [Link to activities post]
✨ Honor and Memory in the Borderlands
Whether your ancestors made their home in El Paso or simply passed through, their footprints remain in the history of this place. With time and effort, their voices can be heard again—through old photos, written records, and family stories waiting to be shared.
Let’s keep pressing forward—there’s so much more to uncover.
With gratitude and determination,
Robin R. Foster
Faithful, Grateful, and Pressing Forward
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