In the US, illegal immigrans are sometimes called wetbacks. In Mexico they call them "mojados", which means the same thing. That's what we were in Mexico. We entered the country without papers so were here illegally. When we came through the border at El Berrendo (opposite Antelope Wells, NM) there were customs officials, but no immigration officials, so we had to come in without the papers.

Well, yesterday we tried to fix that before Ron left on the bus from Chihuahua to Denver. We didn't want him having troubles at the border! So we found out where the Immigration office was in Chihuahua was, called them, and went in to get things fixed up.

We explained to them what had happened at the border, and they asked why we didn't go to El Paso to get our papers. (We're on bikes, guys!) I think they could see that we didn't do anything wrong, but a long conversation ensued, without resolution. Then there was an extended phone call to a superior.

We were finally told to go to the office supplies store 5 blocks away and get nine sheets of Form SAT-5, along with copies of our passports. We did.

Then they typed up the forms SAT-5, in triplicate, which explained how we had violated the laws of the country. Eventually, they gave us the forms and sent us to the bank, 5 blocks away in the other direction. We had to go to the bank, pay our fine of $20 ($40 for me because I'm staying longer) and then come back. We did.

Then there was another phone call and we were asked to sit down for a bit.

Finally, about the exact minute we needed to rush off to get Ron on the bus, they gave us his form that explained to all officials that although he was a bad boy, he had paid for his crime, and should be allowed to leave the country. I hope it worked well for him.

Mexican Immigration is not the most efficient organization in the country :-)
First, there was a long conversation
they said we'd have to go to the office supplies shop 5 blocks away and get 9 sheets of form