EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations will expand the highly successful All Lanes Open Initiative (ALOI) during the Easter holiday week. The added hours of operation begin April 13 and continue through April 26. Under the ALOI, CBP routinely staffs all primary inspection lanes at the El Paso port of entry during peak traffic periods.
In addition to CBP’s expanded ALOI effort, the city of El Paso is also increasing their commitment to the public-private partnership in which private entities are authorized to reimburse CBP for added inspection services at El Paso border crossings.
All inspection lanes at the El Paso port of entry will be open for 328 hours during this period. The net result of the joint effort is a 77 percent increase in the number of hours lanes are fully staffed under the ALOI.
“The Easter and Holy Week period is historically one of the busiest travel periods at southwest border crossings,” said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Port Director. “Through this joint effort we expect to successfully manage the anticipated traffic surge. Along with a general increase in overall traffic, we also see an increase in the number of Mexican laser visa card holders who request the I-94 travel documents required to travel beyond the border zone.”
The joint initiative begins Sunday with all primary inspection lanes open for 14 hours at the Paso Del Norte (PDN) and Ysleta vehicle lanes from 10 a.m. until midnight and for eight hours at the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) vehicle and PDN pedestrian lanes from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Monday through Friday CBP plans to staff all PDN and BOTA vehicle inspection lanes from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. The Ysleta vehicle lanes will be fully staffed from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday and then 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. Tuesday through Friday. The PDN pedestrian facility will be fully staffed from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday; 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursday and then 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. Friday.
On Saturday, April 19, at PDN and BOTA all vehicle lanes will be open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. All Ysleta vehicle lanes will be open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., while PDN pedestrian will be fully staffed from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
On Easter Sunday, all lanes will be open for 14 hours at the Paso Del Norte and Ysleta vehicle lanes from 10 a.m. until midnight and for eight hours at the Bridge of the Americas vehicle and PDN pedestrian lanes from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
On Monday April 21 all lanes will be open for 10 hours at the Paso Del Norte and Ysleta vehicle lanes from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. and for 12 hours at the Bridge of the Americas from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. and four hours at PDN pedestrian from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m.
On April 22 through April 25 CBP is planning to staff all lanes at the PDN car and pedestrian lanes as well as the BOTA from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. The Ysleta crossing will be fully staffed from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. April 22 and from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. April 23 through April 25.
On April 26 CBP is planning to staff all lanes at the PDN car and pedestrian lanes as well as the BOTA from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Ysleta crossing.
In addition to the efforts being put forth by CBP, the agency is also reminding travelers that there are steps they can take to speed the Holy Week cross border travels. The most important step is being fully prepared for the inspection process by being ready to present entry documents to the CBP officer at the primary inspection. Being prepared to declare all items acquired abroad will also help.
CBP is also reminding travelers that travelers can legally import up to 10 cascarones, but they must be completely clean and be presented for inspection. The colorful confetti-filled eggshells are a concern because they may introduce Exotic Newcastle’s Disease to the U.S. poultry industry. Violators are subject fines.