see also: in October 2006 News Releases:   CBP releases outstanding 2006 results   CBP Launches SENTRI Program Improvements   Aduanas Introduce Mejoras al Programa SENTRI   CBP Deploys Newest Unmanned Aircraft   CBP Border Patrol Nabs Sex Offender   More Than $1 Million in Cocaine Seized by CBP Border Patrol Agents in New Mexico   CBP Border Patrol Agents Foil Drug Smugglers ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Calexico, CA — The port of Calexico is developing and implementing strategies in the coming weeks to better facilitate entry of vehicular and pedestrian traffic into the U.S. while maintaining its current strong enforcement posture, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced today.

CBP will proactively monitor and carefully deploy its available officers and supervisors at the downtown and East port facilities to ensure that all vehicular and pedestrian lanes are open during peak traffic hours every day, said Adele Fasano, CBP director of field operations in San Diego.

Fasano said she has directed port management to reallocate staffing as needed between the two facilities to increase coverage of the traffic lanes.

“Our goal is to maximize our processing capability within the confines of the existing port infrastructure during peak traffic periods. Fasano said.” The port will implement a variety of strategies to improve the traffic flow while fulfilling our important border security mandate.”

For example, the downtown facility will increase by an hour the current SENTRI operation during busy weekday evening hours. Effective immediately, the port will staff the SENTRI lane from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. In addition the downtown facility will add a temporary fifth pedestrian lane in the coming weeks to expand its processing capacity during peak times for people crossing on foot.

Because a small number of northbound traffic lanes in Mexico branch out into 10 vehicular lanes entering the downtown port of entry, traffic bottlenecks can occur during peak periods that can have a deleterious impact on traffic flow, Fasano said. During peak traffic periods, CBP will monitor the problem areas on the U.S. side of the border to efficiently direct traffic entering the port.

CBP will develop staffing strategies to open the east port facility earlier during the agriculture season when the pedestrian lines increase due to Mexican farm laborers entering the U.S. The east facility currently opens at 6 a.m. but will be open earlier depending on need and staffing availability, Fasano said. Port management will work closely with Mexican authorities to better synchronize the closing of the Calexico East gates at 10 p.m. to ensure minimum disruption to travelers still waiting to enter the U.S.

Fasano said a significant threat of smuggling activity continues at ports of entry in the Imperial Valley. The threat, coupled with the elevated border security level, has had an impact on traffic wait times at border stations throughout the California/Mexico border due to the need for officers to exercise due diligence during their inspections of people, documents and vehicles.

The amount of narcotics seized and the number of wanted criminals apprehended at ports of entry on the California/Mexico border burgeoned during fiscal year 2006.

The amount of cocaine seized at the port of Calexico has increased 134 percent (3,162 pounds) at the downtown facility and 274 percent (1,100) pounds) at the East station through August 2006. The quantity of Methamphetamine seized grew by almost 20 percent (261 pounds) at the downtown port and 513 percent (232 pounds) at the east facility. The amount of marijuana seized also increased by 32 percent (37,304 pounds) and 542 (16,889 pounds) percent respectively at the two facilities.

CBP officers at the two facilities apprehended 186 individuals with outstanding felony arrest warrants for various crimes such as murder, robbery, theft, child abuse, parole violation and narcotics charges. Over 8,000 undocumented migrants committing immigration violations such as the use of fraudulent documents or being smuggled in a car were apprehended at the two port facilities through August.

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 the 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.