CBP Deploys Multiple Facilitation Measures as Holy Week Traffic Reaches Peak at the Laredo Port of Entry
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Apr 13, 2017, Comments Off
Courtesy Mucia Dovalina,
LAREDO, Texas– – As the onslaught of heavy traffic has reached its highest point this Holy Week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Laredo Port of Entry have thrust into high gear a variety of effective measures to facilitate a smooth, orderly traffic flow, including a dedicated lane, electronic tourist permits, expanded processing hours and satellite tourist permit processing booths in multiple locations.
“For CBP, Holy Week is one of the busiest travel periods of the year and our deployment of these multiple facilitation measures has helped enormously to keep wait times down to manageable levels while retaining our ability to maintain our border security mission,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry. “Travelers were also encouraged to present WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) compliant documents during inspection, and ensure they are not in possession of inadmissible or prohibited goods. These efforts, along with business transformational initiatives to expedite permit and commercial bus processing implemented by CBP have resulted in an overall wait time reduction of approximately one-third compared to previous Semana Santa travel seasons,” Alvarez said.
Port Director Alvarez continued, “CBP would like to thank the traveling public for their partnership and encourages continued use of trusted traveler and designated local traveler lanes and WHTI-compliant documents through the remainder of the Semana Santa travel season. CBP followed through with these implemented programs which resulted in facilitated travel throughout this holiday season.”
“Our frontline officers at Laredo Port of Entry have really hit the ball out of the park in terms of innovation by deploying these off-site tourist permit processing stations,” said Director, Field Operations David P. Higgerson, Laredo Field Office. “That coupled with a careful and constant analysis of traffic volumes and deploying organic resources to meet the workload has proven effective in managing these peak traffic flows while carrying out the CBP mission.”
The Laredo Port of Entry strongly encourages travelers to apply for their tourist permits online via http://i94.cbp.dhs.gov Travelers will now receive a provisional I-94 after submitting their application and payment online. To finalize the I-94 process, travelers must present themselves at a port of entry within seven days of their application to be interviewed by a CBP officer, submit biometric fingerscans and a photo is taken. Laredo Field Office ports of entry will extend front of the line privileges to travelers who submit their I-94 applications electronically and present their provisional I-94 permit receipt.
