CBP Announces Enhancements to SENTRI Program at the Otay Mesa Border Crossing
News Release
CBP Announces Enhancements to SENTRI Program at the Otay Mesa Border Crossing
SAN DIEGO, CA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials today announced the opening of a new SENTRI pedestrian lane and an additional SENTRI vehicle lane at the Otay Mesa port of entry.
The establishment of a permanent Secure Electronic Network for Traveler’s Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) pedestrian lane and additional vehicle lane at the port will allow current members to further expedite their border crossing on foot or through use of the SENTRI vehicle lanes.
The new SENTRI pedestrian and vehicle lane will become operational on Wednesday, April 15 at 6 a.m.
Hours of operation of the SENTRI pedestrian lane are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, including holidays.
The new dual use lane is in addition to an existing dedicated SENTRI vehicle lane available seven days a week including holidays and will allow the flexible use of the newest lane to process either SENTRI or normal vehicles, as traffic conditions warrant.
Hours of operation of the existing SENTRI vehicle lane are Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekends and holidays.
The nation’s first SENTRI pedestrian lane opened at the San Ysidro port of entry on September 9, 2008.
CBP’s SENTRI provides dedicated vehicle lanes and expedited processing at various ports of entry on the Southwest border. SENTRI is a land-border crossing program that provides expedited CBP processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers along the U.S./Mexico border. Currently the SENTRI program in San Ysidro has more than 105,000 members.
Interested travelers may apply for the SENTRI program by visiting the Travel page on the CBP website at www.cbp.gov/travel. The application process takes approximately six to eight weeks to complete. The membership fee is $122.25, valid for five years.
Applicants must pass a background check, fingerprint submission, and an in-person interview with a CBP officer.
The SENTRI program was first implemented at Otay Mesa, CA, in 1995, and has grown to include 16 lanes at the nine largest ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border including San Ysidro, CA; Calexico, CA; Nogales, AZ; two crossings in El Paso, TX; and the Texas ports of Laredo, Hidalgo and Brownsville.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
Thanks,
Toby Sosbee
Program Manager - Community Relations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
(619) 652-9966 x151
(619) 851-8529 (BB)