CBP Officials Announce Update to Operations at Otay Mesa Port of Entry

SAN DIEGO - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are announcing changes to hours of operation at the Otay Mesa port of entry, in response to the COVID-19 virus and decreases in traffic volumes.  The Otay Mesa passenger border crossing will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. effective Sunday, May 3, including the SENTRI lanes.

This is a change to the passenger portion of the port of entry; there are no changes to the cargo/commercial facility at the port of entry hours. In preparation for the new hours, the border crossing will close at 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 2.

On April 5, CBP officials announced changes to hours of operation at select ports of entry along the California/Mexico border, in response to decreased traffic volumes because of COVID-19 and restrictions against non-essential travel.  On April 20, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada agreed to extend restrictions on non-essential travel across their shared borders for an additional 30 days.

CBP officials have experienced a decrease in the volume of northbound traffic arriving at the Otay Mesa passenger port of entry. The week of March 2 compared to last week, CBP officials saw a 44% decrease in vehicle traffic and a 68% decrease in pedestrians.

“We had previously reduced the hours of operation of the SENTRI vehicle lanes at Otay Mesa from midnight to 10 p.m. on April 26,” said CBP Director of Field Operations for San Diego, Pete Flores. “Due to the stay at home orders on both sides of the border, there has been a sustained decrease in traffic volumes, therefore we are further limiting the operating hours.”

Overall, there has been a decrease in northbound traffic at all the land ports of entry on the California border with Mexico. The week of March 2 compared to last week there was an average decrease of 51% in vehicle crossings for a daily average of more than 43,500 vehicles.  We also experienced an average decrease of 75% in pedestrians crossing, with a daily average of more than 14,000.  In addition, last week, 91% - 94% of travelers entering in vehicles and on foot were U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

The land borders remain open to lawful trade and travel for emergency response, public health, and other essential purposes, while taking critical steps to protect our employees and citizens and to curb spread of the virus.