Tijuana police offer to inspect vehicles at border to expedite crossing times

SAN DIEGO ( Border Report ) — The city of Tijuana is offering to have its police department inspect northbound vehicles at the San Ysidro Port of Entry to expedite border crossing times.

The officers would search cars and try to identify passengers attempting to enter the U.S. unlawfully.

Currently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intersect vehicles before they get to the inspection booths, checking for documentation.

Tijuana city officials say their plan would free up CBP officers allowing them to open more lanes at the crossing.

“We will have a meeting with CBP at city hall and discuss our proposal as well as other security matters at the port of entry,” said Pedro Montejo Peterson, Tijuana’s Secretary of Economic Development.

Montejo Peterson said only 17 of the 25 available gates are being used, creating long lines on the Mexican side of the port of entry.

“This has to do with agents who are asking for documents before drivers reach the inspection gates, it’s time we replaced these agents allowing them to work the booths getting people across the border faster.”

He also stated the new city administration is in the process of placing armed personnel at the crossing ready to inspect vehicles as drivers approach the United States’ inspection areas.

“This idea would make it easier, these U.S. agents could be deployed to inspection booths instead of doing a function we could be doing.”

Border Report reached out to CBP about the likelihood this idea would be put in place but has not heard back.

Every day, 70,000 cars cross the border into the U.S. through the San Ysidro Port of Entry, according to CBP statistics.

Montejo Peterson says daily, about 50 people are found to lack proper documents to cross the border.

In November 2022, a similar idea was tried, but after a few weeks, it was discontinued when CBP refused to move its officers.

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