El Paso Port Director Hector Mancha said pickled pork skins are banned because they have the potential to introduce "foreign animal diseases to the U.S. pork industry."
The seizure was made at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in downtown El Paso Saturday after the man told customs officials that he didn't have anything from Mexico to declare. An x-ray examination of his bags revealed the pork.
Maier said fried pork skins are allowed.
