CBP Implements New Program for Eagle Pass International Bridges Starting June 21
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2021
United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Eagle Pass Port of Entry Director Paul Del Rincon announced on Thursday, June 17, 2021, a new program for vehicles and people crossing into the United States from Mexico at the City of Eagle Pass International Bridges Nos. 1 and 2 commencing on Monday, June 21, 2021.
The new program will require that all vehicles and people crossing into the United States from Mexico at the City of Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 during normal hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be limited to only those who have a Chip Technology Card such as Sentri Certified, Global Entry Certified or have a United States Passport with a RFID Chip. All occupants or passengers in a vehicle crossing into the United States through Eagle Pass Bridge No. 1 are required to have one of these Chip Technology Cards or document.
All vehicles with occupants or passengers crossing into the United States from Mexico who have other verification forms such as a Birth Certificate, Driver’s License, or Identification Card will not be allowed to cross through Eagle Pass Bridge No. 1, but rather will be required to enter through Eagle Pass Bridge No. 2.
In addition, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. the Eagle Pass Bridge No. 1 will only be allowing vehicles with occupants or passengers having certified Sentri and Global Entry Chip Cards.
Eagle Pass Bridge No. 2 will allow vehicles and people crossing into the United States with either Chip Technology Cards such as Sentri Certified, Global Entry Certified, U.S. Passport with RFID Chip and those with other verification forms such as a Birth Certificate, Driver’s License, or Identification Card.
In other words, any vehicle with occupants or passengers with other forms of identification such as Birth Certificates, Driver’s License, or Identification Card will have to enter through the Eagle Pass Bridge No. 2 only. Any vehicle with occupants or passengers with Chip Technology Card such as Sentri Certified, Global Entry Certified, or U.S. Passport with RFID Chip will be allowed to enter through both Eagle Pass Bridge No. 1 and 2.
A study conducted on the waiting time to cross into the United States from Mexico at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry concluded that vehicles with occupants or passengers with other forms of verification such as Birth Certificates, Driver’s License, or Identification Card cause long delays at the two Eagle Pass Bridges because CBP Officers have to manually type in into the computer system their personal information to verify their entry.
The new program is designed to alleviate the delay in processing vehicles and its occupants from being verified entry into the United States from Mexico.
Meanwhile, the Non-Essential Travel Restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border remain in effect until further notice.
