LAREDO, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Laredo Field Office is announcing that the agency is preparing to open available lanes along with encouraging use of trusted traveler programs and Ready Lanes to help facilitate the annual surge in northbound traffic anticipated at South Texas ports of entry over the approaching Holy Week period.
Port Director Joseph Misenhelter speaks of efforts to facilitate Holy Week traffic at Laredo Port of Entry. Photo courtesy of Laredo Morning Times/Cuate Santos.
“Laredo Field Office is taking a proactive approach to facilitating the expected surge in traffic during Holy Week this year by reaching out to the traveling public via radio public service announcements and encouraging travelers to get their I-94s early, urging SENTRI members to utilize designated SENTRI lanes and those with RFID-enabled documents to use the Ready Lanes in addition to operational facilitation measures,” said Director, Field Operations David P. Higgerson, Laredo Field Office.
The radio outreach will also encourage radio-frequency identification technology (RFID)-equipped travel documents such as U.S. passport cards and the newer versions of the border crossing card and resident alien card to utilize the Ready Lanes and for travelers to have their entry documents ready as they approach the booth to facilitate their processing.
Facilitation measures such as opening lanes commensurate with traffic flow are designed to enable processing of a larger than normal volume of travelers seeking tourist permits to travel into the interior of the U.S. while facilitating the daily commuter traffic flows.
CBP still strives to temper the facilitation measures with security, always upholding CBP’s anti-terrorism mission. CBP will monitor traffic volumes at international bridges across South Texas and stands ready to post additional officers to ensure all available lanes are open, commensurate with traffic flow. In some locations, Border Patrol agents will augment existing staffing.
In Laredo and Brownsville, CBP advises travelers to tune in to AM 1610 to listen to repeating radio broadcasts of important tips in English and Spanish regarding documents necessary to cross, enrollment in the SENTRI program and other useful traveler tips. The 10-watt signal can be heard several miles north and south of the international bridges in Laredo and Brownsville.
Lastly, since Easter is fast approaching, CBP is reminding the traveling public that cascarones (confetti-filled eggshells) are restricted to quantities of 10 per passenger and the shells may be decorated or etched but they must be empty, clean and free of any egg residue.
Cascarones are a restricted commodity by CBP in order to prevent further spread of Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) through contaminated eggshells. END is a highly contagious, fatal viral disease that affects a substantial number of bird species, attacking respiratory, nervous and digestive systems. Mortality is up to 90 percent of exposed birds.