As communities along the U.S.-Mexico border prepare for Día de los Muertos, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are reminding travelers of restrictions on certain agricultural items. These items, often used in holiday decorations, are prohibited from entering the United States due to their potential to carry harmful pests and diseases such as citrus huanglongbing.

Huanglongbing, also known as HLB or citrus greening, is a bacterial disease that affects nearly all citrus varieties and some ornamental plants like orange jasmine. The disease poses a significant threat to the U.S. citrus industry, having first been detected in 2005 in Miami-Dade County, Florida. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is one of the most severe citrus diseases worldwide and currently has no cure.

Día de los Muertos is observed by creating altars or memorials using flowers like marigolds and ornamental greenery such as Murraya or orange jasmine. However, Murraya is a host plant for the Asian citrus psyllid, an insect that can carry huanglongbing bacteria and is therefore banned from entering the U.S.

Prohibited fruits include oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, sour oranges, sweet limes, guavas, mangoes, peaches, and pomegranates. Additionally, tomato and pepper plants from Mexico have been restricted since November 2019 to prevent the spread of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus.

Travelers who fail to declare prohibited agricultural items may face fines ranging from $500 for personal importation to $250,000 for commercial importation.

For more information on how travelers can protect America's agricultural industry and avoid importing prohibited items, they are encouraged to visit the “Bringing Food into the U.S.” and “Can I Bring it” webpages.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) serves as America's frontline law enforcement organization with over 65,000 personnel working on land, air, and sea to facilitate safe travel and trade while ensuring national security.