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Agriculture

CBP uncovers almost 300 live plants within vehicles; agriculture specialists issue $1,300 in civil penalties at Laredo Port of Entry

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LAREDO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists discovered almost 300 undeclared live plants in two separate enforcement actions at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge. “Preventing harmful, prohibited agriculture products, including live plants and soil from entering the U.S. is an integral aspect of the work of our CBP officers and agriculture specialists serving as America’s frontline. These two significant agricultural enforcement actions help protect American agriculture from plant pests and diseases not known to exist in the U.S.” said Port Director Albert

El Puerto de Entrada de Laredo implementa medidas de facilitación para enfrentar tráfico aumentado durante los días festivos de Semana Santa, Vacaciones de Primavera

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LAREDO, Texas — A medida que la nación acerca a Vacaciones de Primavera y la Semana Santa, el Puerto de Entrada de Laredo, de la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP) de los EE. UU. pronto iniciara a procesar grandes volúmenes de viajeros internacionales a los Estados Unidos a través de la frontera del sur de Texas. El aumento de tráfico se debe a la próxima Semana Santa, que es uno de los períodos de mayor tráfico del año. "Con la mayoría de los niños ya en casa desde la escuela, la administración del Puerto de Entrada de CBP Laredo se está preparando para procesar volúmenes

Laredo Port of Entry prepares and implements facilitation measures for increased Spring Break, Holy Week holiday traffic

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LAREDO, Texas — As the nation approaches the Spring Break, Holy Week period, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Laredo Port of Entry will soon begin to process larger volumes of international travelers to the United States through the South Texas border. The increase in traffic is due to the upcoming Holy Week (Semana Santa), which is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. “With most children already home from school, CBP Laredo Port of Entry management is gearing up to process significant volumes of vehicular traffic for the Spring Break, Holy Week holiday

CBP officers, agriculture specialists intercept howler monkeys at Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge

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BROWNSVILLE, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge intercepted two live howler monkeys in a vehicle in a single enforcement action. “Our frontline CBP officers’ diligence in the performance of their duties led them to the discovery of two live howler monkeys transported in a vehicle,” said Acting Port Director Michael B. Reyes, Brownsville Port of Entry. “CBP remains committed to preventing the exploitation of protected animals and the spread of animal diseases.” The incident occurred on Mar. 4 at

CBP advises traveling public of yucca flower regulations

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BROWNSVILLE, Texas — With the Lenten season right around the corner, travelers are advised that the importation of fresh yucca flowers from Mexico - more commonly known as chochas or flor de palma - is prohibited. “We are asking the traveling public not to bring fresh yucca flowers as they will not be allowed to enter,” said Acting Port Director Michael B. Reyes, Brownsville Port of Entry. Importations of fresh yucca flowers are prohibited. However, cooked yucca flowers are allowed since the cooking process kills pests within the flower and effectively mitigates the pest risk. Travelers must

CBP Tops 1B Cut Flower Imports for Valentine’s Day

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WASHINGTON —With Valentine’s Day upon us, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists have received more than 1 billion cut flower shipments since Jan. 1, for pests and diseases that could harm U.S. agricultural and floral industries. “Increased shipments of flowers make this a very busy time for CBP, but our agriculture specialists are ready and able to meet this demand while safeguarding our nation against agricultural threats,” said Troy A. Miller, CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner. Last year, CBP officials inspected more than 352 million

Agriculture specialists ensure Valentine’s Day bouquets are free from pests, diseases

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SAN DIEGO — Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists are busy working at U.S. ports of entry to ensure that flower imports are free from pests and diseases that could harm the agriculture and floral industry of the United States. “Protecting the integrity of our floral and agriculture industry from invasive pests and diseases is a top priority for CBP,” said Sidney Aki, CBP Director of Field Operations for San Diego. “If encountered, these pests and diseases can have a severe impact on the economic vitality of our floral and

CBP Ensures Pest-free Flowers for Valentine’s Day

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LAREDO, Texas – As Valentine’s Day rapidly approaches, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s highly skilled agriculture specialists and officers across more than 328 ports of entry continue to dutifully examine hundreds of millions of arriving cut flower stems to ensure that plant diseases and plant pests are detected and stopped from being introduced into the United States where they could cause harm. At international ports of entry, land borders and mail facilities, CBP agriculture specialists are the front line in the fight against the introduction of harmful insects and diseases into the

El Paso area CBP agriculture specialists hard at work to ensure Valentine’s Day flowers are pest-free

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EL PASO, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists working at El Paso area ports of entry will be busy in the days ahead tapping and shaking cut flower shipments to make sure that personal and commercial importations of Valentine’s Day flowers are free from insects, pests and diseases that could harm the agricultural and floral industries of the United States. Valentine’s Day is Wednesday, Feb. 14. “Historically the period leading up to Valentine’s Day is among the busiest for CBP agriculture specialists. The volume of floral imports arriving at area ports of entry