see also: in August 2007 News Releases:   Border Patrol Agents Seize Drugs at California Checkpoint   Palm Beach, Fla. Welcomes New Tool in Fighting Terror Weapons   Drug Seizure Activity at Border Ports Remains Brisk; El Paso CBP Nabs More Than 2 Tons of Pot   Yuma Border Agents Help Local Police Track 3 Fleeing Burglary Scene   CBP Officers at Laredo, Texas Entry Seize Almost $6 Million in Drugs in Two Seizures   Suspected Smuggling Lookouts Captured in Desert   1st Director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Northwest Retires ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Santa Teresa, N.M. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Santa Teresa, N.M. port of entry commercial cargo facility will be providing an additional 20 hours of service per week to the international trade community beginning September 3. Officials working at the adjacent San Jeronimo facility in Mexico will also increase their level of service by adopting the expanded hours of operation. U.S., Mexican and New Mexico leaders met at the Santa Teresa port June 19 to publicly announce the details of the six-month expansion.

Under the plan, the two cargo facilities will remain open until 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. The cargo facilities are currently open to receive commercial traffic from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday. They are closed Sundays.

Commercial traffic has been increasing at the Santa Teresa crossing in recent years, prompting a desire from members of the trade to community and the state of New Mexico to obtain additional service hours. During the first 10 months of fiscal year 2007, the port processed 30,991 northbound commercial trucks. CBP officers at the Santa Teresa port processed 36,950 northbound commercial trucks in FY 2006, up from 33,166 in FY 2005 and 28,888 in FY 2004.

Local CBP managers have worked closely with their Mexican counterparts and the state of New Mexico regarding the upcoming test. Port of entry officials will closely monitor traffic and assess the overall impact of the temporary expansion of service hours at the three-month mark and again at the conclusion of the test. Baseline traffic measurements will be used to compare results. Traffic measurements will play an important role in determining the feasibility of making the extended service hours permanent. Other factors will also be considered.

Officials at both the U.S. and Mexican facilities at Santa Teresa-San Jeronimo have committed appropriate staffing and equipment to support the temporary expansion. The expanded service hours will also be promoted to the international trade community through a variety of means in the months ahead to maximize participation during the six-month test. For example, CBP officials sent a reminder to members of the trade community earlier this month.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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.