see also: in September 2006 News Releases:   CBP Seized Heroin Onboard Mayaguez Ferry   The Dominican Republic to Implement Container Security Initiative and Begin Targeting and Pre-Screening Cargo Destined For U.S.   Bahamas to Implement Container Security Initiative and Begin Targeting and Pre-Screening Cargo Destined for United States   Civil Penalties for Agriculture Import Violations to Increase October 1   CBP Border Patrol Arrests Homicide Suspect in Abilene, Texas   Border Patrol Advanced Training to Move to Charleston, S.C.   National Guard Spots Attempted Vehicle Drive-through ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers   Trusted Traveler Programs

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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner W. Ralph Basham today announced the 100,000th member in the NEXUS trusted traveler highway border crossing program.

“This milestone in NEXUS participation demonstrates our strong working relationship with Canada and a strong track record in implementing technology at the border to both secure and facilitate legitimate trade and travel,” said Commissioner Basham. “We look forward to building on this success.”

NEXUS Highway is a joint Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection program designed to simplify border crossings for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. The NEXUS program also includes Air and Marine components.

NEXUS Highway allows expedited customs and immigration processing using dedicated lanes. NEXUS members entering the U.S. are subject to an examination at any time by a CBP officer. Besides offering improved service to the traveling public, this program enables the two nations to concentrate their efforts on potentially high-risk travelers and goods, thereby enhancing security and protection standards at the border.

An added benefit of being enrolled in the NEXUS Highway program is that members are automatically enrolled in NEXUS Marine, which allows members to use their NEXUS Highway privileges at designated NEXUS Marine waterways when traveling by recreational boat. A future enhancement includes merging NEXUS Air members with the NEXUS Highway members allowing travel using both modes at no additional cost to the traveler.

NEXUS Highway is an initiative of the Smart Border Declaration’s 32-point action plan and stems from the Canada–U.S. Accord on Our Shared Border. NEXUS Highway began operations in the summer of 2002 and there are currently NEXUS lanes at 11 border crossings.

It is expected that the NEXUS Highway and Air programs will meet the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that will require all travelers, including U.S. citizens and Canadians, to present a passport or another appropriate secure document when entering the United States from within the western hemisphere. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative new air and sea rules are proposed to go into effect January 8, 2007. The land rules are slated to come into effect January 1, 2008.

For more information on the NEXIS program, please visit CBP’s Website at www.cbp.gov, and click on “Frequent Traveler Programs” under the Travel tab. ( Trusted Traveler Programs )

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.