PEMBINA, N.D.—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today announced the opening of two new land border ports of entry in Neche and Walhalla, N.D. These new border facilities-funded as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) - will replace outdated facilities, strengthen security and facilitate the flow of legal travel and trade through ports of entry along the northern border.
"The new port facilities in Neche and Walhalla enhance our mission to secure our borders," said Pembina Area Port Director Mary Delaquis. "The updated infrastructure and technologies of these facilities provide more efficient, secure and expedited processing for travelers crossing our northern border."
The new facilities in Neche and Walhalla feature cutting-edge inspection technologies that both strengthen security and expedite inspections. These facilities support current inspection requirements and will be adaptable for CBP's future border security and trade facilitation needs.
- Neche, on ND Hwy 18, adjoins the Canadian port of Gretna in Manitoba. Operational hours are from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm (CST), daily.
- Walhalla, on ND Hwy 32, adjoins the Canadian port of Winkler in Manitoba. Operational hours are from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm (CST), daily.
CBP is using Recovery Act funds to modernize more than 35 land ports of entry along the northern border to meet security and operational needs. The new facilities in Neche and Walhalla support current inspection requirements and will be adaptable for CBP's future border security and trade facilitation needs.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to invest additional personnel and technology along the northern border - deploying more than 2,200 Border Patrol agents and nearly 3,800 CBP officers throughout the region to manage the flow of people and goods through ports of entry and designated border crossings.
CBP continues to deploy state-of-the-art technology along the northern border, including thermal camera systems, Mobile Surveillance Systems and Remote Video Surveillance Systems. Additionally, CBP unmanned aircraft currently patrol nearly 950 miles along the northern border from Washington to Minnesota, and approximately 200 miles along the northern border in New York and Lake Ontario.