see also: in October 2008:   Mexican Military Makes Accidental Incursion into the U.S.   CBP Officers Apprehend Illegal Alien Hidden on Rail Car   Border Patrol Agents Make Several Drug Seizures Near Laredo   CBP Officers at the Calexico Downtown Port of Entry Intercept Cocaine Smuggling Attempt   CBP to Open Andrade Port of Entry Earlier During Agriculture Harvest Season   Layered Enforcement Snags U.S. Citizen, Foils 3 Smuggling Attempts   CBP Announces Online Method for Meeting SENTRI Vehicle Requirements ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers   SENTRI

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El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of El Paso will extend the hours of service at the city’s Secure Electronic Network for Traveler Rapid Inspection Stanton crossing.

Beginning this weekend, the Stanton Dedicated Commuter Lane will open two hours earlier than normal. The new weekend hours for the downtown DCL will now be from 8 a.m. until midnight. The Stanton DCL was opening at 10 a.m. on weekends.

“Extending the hours of service by two hours at the Stanton DCL crossing will bring significant relief to the three non-SENTRI crossings, “said William Molaski, acting port director, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso. “In addition, the DCL program will be more attractive for the ‘Trusted Traveler’ seeking expedited entry.”

In addition to expanding weekend service hours, CBP will continue to provide SENTRI/DCL service at the Stanton crossing from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday. The DCL at the Ysleta crossing will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

El Paso CBP has offered SENTRI/DCL service to the El Paso/Juarez communities for the past nine years. The Stanton DCL opened in September 1999 and the Ysleta DCL in December 2005.

Currently, the Port of El Paso has approximately 24,748 people enrolled in the SENTRI program. During fiscal year 2008, there were 1,237,765 vehicles that made entry at the Stanton DCL and 443,510 at the Ysleta DCL.

The SENTRI program, commonly know as the Dedicated Commuter Lane or DCL provides an inspection alternative to participants who enroll in the “trusted traveler” program and successfully pass a background inspection. SENTRI members are entitled to benefits such as dedicated primary lanes, expedited routine CBP questioning, and priority secondary processing. In addition, the SENTRI card is approved for travel in the land and sea environments under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. SENTRI participants are considered low risk by CBP but in order to maintain the integrity of the program, DCL members are still subject to a full inspection upon entry.

The cost for enrollment in the program is $122.25 per person and is good for five years. Family units applying as a group can take advantage of the reduced rate structure. SENTRI members are required to pay additional toll fees in Mexico. SENTRI applications can be submitted on-line using the Global Enrollment System.

If approved, the turn-around time for the entire application process is approximately two weeks. Further information on the SENTRI program can be found in the Customs and Border Protection Web site , including the link to the Global Online Enrollment Center. ( SENTRI )

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.