Brownsville–Matamoros, at the mouth of the Rio Grande Valley, is joined by four bridges: Gateway downtown for pedestrians, the historic B&M, Veterans International for most vehicles, and Los Indios toward Harlingen.
The table below shows the latest snapshot from CBP’s official Border Wait Times feed (refreshed daily). For minute-by-minute numbers, check bwt.cbp.gov or the official CBP Link app before you get in line.
Data from CBP's official feed (snapshot 2026-07-25). Wait times change hour to hour — verify live at bwt.cbp.gov.
The crossings at Brownsville
| Crossing | What it is |
|---|---|
| Gateway (downtown) | Downtown 24-hour bridge — the main pedestrian crossing. |
| B&M | The oldest bridge (rail plus passenger vehicles), downtown, open 24 hours. |
| Veterans International (Los Tomates) | Main vehicle bridge east of downtown, with SENTRI lanes and commercial traffic. |
| Los Indios (Free Trade) | Free Trade Bridge near Harlingen and San Benito — passenger plus commercial. |
Know before you cross
- On foot: This port has a pedestrian crossing; the live table above shows the current wait on foot.
- SENTRI / Ready Lane: SENTRI members get a dedicated vehicle lane here and the Ready Lane accepts RFID-chipped documents (passport card, green cards issued since 2010, border crossing cards). See lane types explained.
- Documents: US citizens need a passport, passport card, or enhanced driver’s license; green-card holders show the green card; visa holders need passport + visa and should check their I-94 record after every entry. Full detail in the documents-to-cross guide.
If you live in the US without permanent status — DACA, TPS, a pending asylum case, or no status — leaving the country can permanently affect your case or block your return. Talk to an immigration attorney before any trip to Mexico. See traveling to your home country from the US and how to find an immigration attorney.