In a formal immigration context, the best document to show is a passport. Get one. If you hustle, you might be able to get yours issued in time for your trip.edgarou wrote:no where did I say I was taking my gun to mexico
I'm talking about showing my CHL to customs ,and border patrol
on the U.S side. you know showing it to law enforcement when asked for I.D and all thet good stuff.
Customs, immigration, etc people are familiar with the document and it will not raise any "red flags" as a CHL can. The way I see it, the CHL gets displayed only in those contexts where it is either required (routine traffic stop when you are carrying) or when it would obviously expedite matters (buying firearm from FFL).
A trickier matter may be getting stopped by Border Patrol agents at an improvised highway roadblock/inspection station well within the border of the US (ie, if they set one up on a deserted highway near, but not at, the border, with the purpose of finding illegal immigrants). Someone with very obvious Anglo features may be waved through without hassle. Others who look more "ethnic" may get request for "ID" and questioned. A naturalized citizen would be well advised to have their US passport handy for presentation upon request, and it would make things a lot smoother. If I was a naturalized citizen with a CHL who got stopped by green-uniformed CBP people on a highway near the border, I would probably show them the passport, DL and CHL.
GC 411.205 (displaying license; penalty) mentions peace officers; I'm not certain that (federal) CBP falls within this category, but I would assume they do until I find conclusive information that says otherwise.
However you play it, I hope you have a safe stay in Mexico, and return safely too.