see also: in March 2008:   Summer Months an Added Challenge for Border Patrol   Los Meses de Verano, un Reto Para la Patrulla Fronteriza   Border Patrol Agents Rescue 38 Illegal Aliens from Smuggling Attempt   Laredo North Station Border Patrol Agents Arrest MS-13 Member   Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Arrest 18th Street Gang Member   El Paso CBP Officers View HDTV: Hidden Drugs in TV Set   El Paso Border Patrol Agents Arrest Criminals with Extensive Records ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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San Ysidro, Calif. – Due to the lack of parking facilities and impending construction projects, on April 1, 2008 the Port of San Ysidro will end a policy of allowing Mexican travelers to park their vehicles on port property when applying for I-94 permits, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced today.

Mexican travelers with “laser visas” will be required to leave their vehicles in Mexico and to apply on-foot for the necessary travel document at the Old Port building just south of the pedestrian facility.

Port officials plan to shift all I-94 permit operations out of a small structure adjacent to the vehicle secondary inspection lot and to centralize processing activity closer to the border so that travelers may conveniently walk to the facility.

The number of permit processing booths at the Old Port building will double to eight and the facility will stay open 24-hours daily for service beginning March 14, 2008, said Oscar Preciado, San Ysidro port director.

“This change is being made because of the intense parking problem in our vehicle secondary lot and construction projects that will commence soon,” Preciado said. “We are increasing our capacity to service travelers by increasing the number of work stations and we will keep the Old Port building open seven days a week to offer more convenience to travelers.”

In the past, travelers typically applied on the day of their planned trip to the U.S. and stood up to three hours in a line that stretched around the vehicle secondary inspection area, causing safety problems and parking congestion, Preciado said.

As the busiest land border port in the nation with 50,000- 65,000 vehicles and 35,000 pedestrians daily entering the U.S. through its gates, the San Ysidro facility is one of the Southwest border stations most affected by heavy holiday I-94 processing.

Planned construction projects at the port, including a reconfiguration of the vehicle secondary inspection area and, later this year, the start of Phase 1 of the port reconstruction project will require that all intensive vehicle inspections be shifted north into the parking area now used by travelers who drive into the port to apply for permits.

Permit seekers using the San Ysidro facility should plan to leave their vehicles in Mexico and travel on-foot to the Old Port building on the pedestrian walkway just across the border. Because the building is located in front of the pedestrian entrance to the port, travelers will not need to make formal entry into the U.S. and can conveniently walk back to Mexico, Preciado said.

“We plan to add signage at the border instructing travelers who only want to apply for their permits but who do not plan to make formal entry into the U.S. to walk to the front of the pedestrian waiting line and ask the U.S. guards for permission to enter the Old Port building,” Preciado said.

Due to the large demand during Easter, Preciado urged Mexican travelers to enter the U.S. on-foot as soon as possible to apply at the Old Port building rather than waiting in line during the busy holiday weekend when almost 3,000 visitors apply daily for the permit.

The essential permit, which costs $6, allows visitors to travel further than 25 miles from the border and to stay up to six months in the U.S. Last year, the port issued almost 420,000 I-94 documents and expects to issue 28,000 permits during the upcoming holiday season.

Mexican travelers may also apply for the document at the Port of Otay Mesa pedestrian facility daily between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Because parking at the Otay Mesa border station also is limited, travelers are encouraged to arrive at the pedestrian facility on-foot if possible.

All traveling family members need to be present during the I-94 application process. Those requesting the permits also must be able to establish financial solvency and proof of residency outside the U.S., Preciado said.

“This expanded service during one of the busiest times of the year should reduce congestion at the port and result in improved service that is safer, more convenient and faster,” Preciado said. We hope the Mexican traveling public will take advantage immediately of this significant improvement in service.”

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.