see also: in November 2005 Press Releases:   CBP Air, Border Patrol Win 2005 USIC Awards   CBP Warns Consumers About Unsafe Toys and Counterfeit Products   Aduanas y Proteccion Fronteriza Recomiendan Tramitar con Tiempo Permiso I-94 Durante Epoca Decembrina   CBP Urges Mexican Holiday Travelers to Apply Early for I-94 Documents   U. S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Nearly 2 Kilos of Cocaine at Newark Liberty International Airport   Calexico Port of Entry to Process I-94 Permits for Mexican Holiday Travelers Immediately   Puerto de Calexico Procesara Permisos I-94 de Manera Expedita a Viajeros Durante Epoca Navideña ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers   Forms

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CALEXICO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials urge Imperial Valley residents and the Mexicali community to enroll now in the SENTRI program to avoid processing delays when the first ever fast-pass vehicle traffic lane in Imperial County begins operation later this year.

“We are excited that our plans to bring the benefits of the SENTRI program to Calexico and Mexicali residents has begun,” said Adele Fasano, CBP field operations director in San Diego. “We urge all interested travelers to enroll now to avoid the expected delay once the lane opens and large numbers of people try to enroll.”

The SENTRI enrollment office at the east Calexico port of entry has been processing applications from low risk cross-border travelers seeking faster entry into the U.S. since the office opened in September. CBP has enrolled 359 applicants so far but Fasano said port officials want to process as many applicants now as possible to avoid any later rush.

The enrollment center has the capacity to process 60-70 applicants a day. In an effort to facilitate enrollment, port officials plan to offer two incentives. CBP will allow special groups of participants from businesses or schools to schedule an enrollment appointment together. And until further notice, individual applicants can walk-in to the SENTRI enrollment center for processing without an appointment.

CBP officials hope this will increase enrollment now and decrease an anticipated overwhelming response and subsequent delay in enrollment, once the lane opens at the downtown port of entry.

“SENTRI has been a hugely successful program that offers real benefits to approved SENTRI participants,” said Calexico Port Director Bonnie Lemert. “We are enthusiastic about the community's response and urge all interested travelers to apply now while applicants are able to walk-in without an appointment.”

The almost 7,000 square-foot facility, complete with up to ten customer booths and easy access and parking for visitors, is located in Building A at 1699 East Carr Road and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The SENTRI program, or Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection, is designed to allow expedited entry into the U.S. for registered low risk cross-border travelers who have paid a processing fee and passed a background check and whose vehicles have been pre-inspected.

Travelers interested in obtaining a SENTRI pass need to complete a CBP Form 823S, the application form can be downloaded from the Internet ( Forms ) , completed at home and printed prior to their interview with a CBP officer at the port. The registration process includes a fingerprint and background check, interview, vehicle inspection and payment of a fee.

Once enrolled, the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards issued by CBP eventually will allow SENTRI participants to enter the U.S. using existing SENTRI lanes at any participating border station on the Southwest Border including the ports of San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, Fasano said.

Meanwhile, work to complete the new SENTRI vehicle traffic lane at the downtown port of entry is moving forward.

Work crews on both sides of the border are making infrastructure changes to speed the development of the area’s first rapid entry vehicle lane in Imperial County. On the U.S. side, SENTRI equipment has been installed in the designated traffic lane at the downtown port facility.

CBP officials are pushing to inaugurate the new traffic lane before the end of the calendar year, Fasano said.

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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.