CALEXICO, CALIF.—The Calexico east passenger port of entry will increase its ability to process U.S. bound passenger vehicles on two Sundays during the busy holiday season. CBP officials will convert three cargo truck lanes at the adjacent Calexico Cargo Facility to supplement vehicle traffic lanes at the passenger border crossing.
CBP officers will route northbound passenger cars through to the CBP cargo truck lanes from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight, for two consecutive Sundays, December 30th and January 6th.
The cargo lots on both sides of the border are normally closed to commercial shipments of merchandise on Sundays.
"We worked to staff CBP officers during these two Sundays in an effort to alleviate high levels of traffic during the holiday season," said Director of Field Operations for San Diego and Imperial Counties, Pete Flores. "We are pleased that the cargo facility could be employed efficiently and securely to temporarily extend the number of available passenger vehicle lanes leading into the U.S."
CBP officials will be positioned in the northbound lanes and will begin routing waiting northbound traffic into a cargo truck lane that leads to the CBP customs import lot. From there, the traffic will make its way north into the U.S. cargo import lot where three temporary primary processing lanes will be established to process vehicular traffic similar to that being accomplished in the passenger facility.
The temporary station will be able to issue I-94 permits for Mexican travelers and will include efforts by agricultural specialists to inspect any plants or food products brought in by travelers.