see also: in June 2003:   Government of Sri Lanka Joins Container Security Initiative to Begin Targeting and Pre-Screening Cargo Destined for U.S.   Second Italian CSI Port Operational, La Spezia to Begin Targeting and Pre-Screening Cargo Destined for U.S.   Italy Implements the Container Security Initiative and Begins to Target and Pre-Screen Cargo Destined for U.S.   CBP Enforces CDC Embargo to Prevent Spread of Monkeypox Virus   CBP, Mexican Customs, Rail Officials Dedicate New Rail Inspection Building   Secretary Ridge Announces Container Security Initiative's Phase II   Kingdom of Thailand Joins Container Security Initiative to Target and Pre-Screen Cargo Destined for U.S. ...more on cbp.gov:   Press Officers   CBP News Releases

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SAN DIEGO, CA--In a move to better facilitate the entry of passenger traffic into the U.S., federal officials today unveiled plans for a two-step process to increase the hours of operation at the Otay Mesa border station that will result later this summer in continuous 24-hour operation.

The facility, located eight miles east of the world's busiest land border port at San Ysidro, initially will increase its operations by four hours for private passenger cars and pedestrians entering the U.S. beginning Sunday, June 15.

Currently open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., officials plan to open two hours earlier and remain open two hours later, said Adele Fasano, interim San Diego field operations director of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Plans call for the port to remain open around the clock starting in late July, she said. Operations at the adjacent commercial cargo facility will remain unchanged.

"Growth over the years in the San Diego-Tijuana region has necessitated these changes to minimize traffic delays and provide better service to the traveling public," Fasano said. "We feel this significant change in our processing capacity will mean faster U.S. entry for the public and also will ease the wait time at the nearby San Ysidro facility as more travelers make use of the Otay Mesa station."

Fasano said the incremental approach will allow port management to adjust processing, enforcement and staffing to result in a smoother transition to around the clock operation at the 13-lane port of entry.

The Otay Mesa border station, which opened in 1985, last year processed almost 4 million private passenger vehicles and 10 million people. The 24-lane facility at San Ysidro, south of San Diego, last year processed 15.3 million vehicles and 42.2 million persons.