Andrea J. Bright Assistant Commissioner | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
As the All Souls’ Day holiday approaches, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials from the Laredo Field Office are cautioning travelers about certain agricultural items that are prohibited from entering the United States. These items, often used in holiday decorations, can carry pests and diseases like citrus greening disease.
Donald Kusser, Director of Field Operations at the Laredo Field Office, stated: “As All Souls’ Day draws near, CBP agriculture specialists at South Texas ports of entry tend to see an increase in travelers bringing agricultural items from Mexico to decorate altares to honor their departed loved ones and want to remind them not to bring in prohibited citrus and floral arrangement fillers.” He emphasized the importance of daily agricultural examinations conducted by CBP specialists to prevent plant pests and diseases from establishing themselves in the U.S., which could cause ecological and economic harm.
During the Allhallowtide season—comprising Halloween on October 31, All Saints’ Day on November 1, and All Souls’ Day on November 2—many families along the border celebrate Día de los Muertos by constructing altars for deceased loved ones. A commonly used ornamental greenery is murraya or orange jasmine. This plant serves as a host for the Asian citrus psyllid insect that carries citrus greening disease, making it prohibited for entry into the country.
Citrus greening disease is caused by a bacterium affecting most citrus varieties and some ornamental plants like orange jasmine. It was first detected in Florida's Miami-Dade County in 2005. The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that this disease has severely impacted citrus production across India, Asia, Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa.
Prohibited citrus fruits include oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, sour oranges, and sweet limes. Other popular fruits such as guavas, mangoes, peaches, and pomegranates are also banned from personal importation.
Travelers failing to declare these prohibited items may face fines ranging up to $500 for personal violations or exceeding $250,000 for commercial infractions.
For further information about bringing food items into the U.S., travelers can refer to CBP’s Know Before You Go guide or USDA guidelines regarding agricultural products brought from other countries.
Updates can be followed through social media accounts: @DFOLaredo on X (formerly Twitter), @dfolaredo on Instagram for Laredo Field Office updates; @CBPSouthTexas provides broader coverage related to CBP activities.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection remains committed as America's frontline defense with over 65,000 personnel ensuring safe travel and trade while protecting national security through various innovative measures.
