I have been doing some research and I am almost ready to get up the nerve to call OCC but I would like to know do I need a passport? Did you have a passport? Was it required. It didn't sound like most people were actually in TJ for more than 72 hours please advise.
I just read the following:
Tijuana, Mexico, lies less than an hour from San Diego, and many Americans head there for its cheap products and raucous atmosphere. Crossing the border into Mexico usually takes just a few minutes, and American travelers going no farther south than Ensenada for 72 hours or less do not need a Mexican tourist card. To cross back into America, travelers must have certain documents on hand.
Proof of CitizenshipAmericans without passports or special documents also can return across the border from Tijuana with two proofs of citizenship, according to Frommer's. The most common documents include a driver's license and birth certificate, though documents such as military identification also work. Travelers 18 and younger must have a birth certificate if they are crossing without a passport.