As communities along the U.S.-Mexico border prepare for Día de los Muertos, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are reminding travelers of certain agricultural items that are prohibited from entering the United States. These items, often used in holiday decorations, pose a risk of carrying pests and diseases such as citrus huanglongbing.

Huanglongbing, also known as HLB or citrus greening, is a bacterial disease affecting almost all citrus varieties and some ornamental plants like orange jasmine. The disease poses a significant threat to the U.S. citrus industry and was first detected in Miami-Dade County, Florida, in 2005. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is no cure for this disease, which can lead to the death of citrus trees and reduced production.

Día de los Muertos celebrations often involve creating altars with vibrant yellow and orange marigolds and ornamental greenery like Murraya or orange jasmine. Murraya is a host plant for the Asian citrus psyllid, an insect that can carry huanglongbing bacteria; thus, it is banned from entering the U.S.

Prohibited fruits include oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, sour oranges, sweet limes, guavas, mangoes, peaches, and pomegranates. Tomato and pepper plants from Mexico are also banned due to concerns over the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus.

Travelers failing to declare these prohibited items face fines ranging from $500 for personal importation to $250,000 for commercial importation.

To avoid bringing prohibited items into the country and safeguard America's agricultural industry, travelers are encouraged to visit CBP's "Bringing Food into the U.S." webpage or "Can I Bring It?" campaign site for guidance.

CBP remains vigilant as America's frontline defense with over 65,000 personnel ensuring security on land, air, and sea while facilitating lawful travel and trade.

For updates on breaking news or events from CBP’s San Diego Field Office follow @DFOSanDiegoCA on social media.