see also: in November 2002:   Manhattan Bank Pleads Guilty to U.S. Criminal Charges for Failure to Report $123 Million in Suspicious Cash Deposits   Customs Seizes 158 Tons of Narcotics During Fiscal Year 2002   Customs Kicks-Off Trade Symposium 2002   Customs and DOT Launch 'Operation Safe Commerce' Program   U.S. Customs Commissioner Comments on Congressional Approval of a New Department of Homeland Security   U.S. Customs Seizes Marijuana in Tractor Tires;   U.S. Customs Shares Seized Drug Money with State and Local Police and Canadian Law Enforcement ...more

contacts for this news release

Why is Customs enhancing security along the Northern Border?

• Immediately following the events of September 11, the U.S. Customs Service placed the nation's 301 air, land and seaports of entry on the highest state of alert for U.S. Customs. Currently under Alert Level Yellow, U.S. Customs and INS Inspectors are maintaining a 24 by 7 presence at the ports of entry, and will conduct a greater number of examinations of people, cargo and conveyances entering the country during normal port hours of operation.
• The United States borders with Canada and Mexico are the longest, most "open" borders in the world. The enhanced security at our nation's borders is designed to combat terrorists, as well as drug traffickers and other criminals.

How has U.S. Customs increased security along our borders?

• On February 27, 2002, U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner informed Congress of his intent to move quickly with measures to enhance security at " low volume ports of entry". These improvements initially will address security vulnerabilities at border crossings that are open less than 24 hours per day. The installation of gates, barriers, signs, lighting and port surveillance equipment is currently being deployed at ports of entry along the Northern Border.

Installation of barriers/gates at the border

• Gates are being installed to replace the traffic cones at 38 ports of entry that were formerly used to indicate that a crossing was closed. When the port of entry is closed after hours, the gates will be locked. The installation of gates, barriers, signs, lighting and port surveillance equipment has been completed at the following New England border locations:

  Maine-Orient, Forest City, Easton, Monticello, Daaquam, St. Aurelie, St. Pamphile, Estcourt, and Hamlin

  Vermont-Alburg Springs and Morses Line

  New Hampshire-Pittsburg

• Special considerations will be taken to address the concerns of Emergency Medical Services and snow removal requirements shared on both sides of the border. These agencies will have the capability to coordinate with local Customs and INS officials for passage during these emergencies.

Hours of port operations
Remote, low-volume border crossings need enhanced protection. Under Customs current "Alert Level", all border crossings are guarded on a 24-hour basis. Customs has not changed the hours of operation at any crossings, and no changes are being considered at this time. U.S. and Canadian officials are currently coordinating their efforts to ensure that the ports of entry on both sides of the border are open to traffic during the same hours of business.

Special Port Pass Holders

• Currently all special port-pass holders utilizing the Remote Video Inspection System (RVIS) has been suspended at all U.S. ports of entry until further notice. As U.S. Customs continues to provide a 7 day per week, 24 hour presence at these RVIS locations, those individuals that have been issued RVIS cards are still being allowed to cross the border.