Santa Teresa Port of Entry Extends Service Hours

El Paso, Texas -U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Field Operations will extend the hours of service at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry in New Mexico. On March 1, 2009, the Santa Teresa international crossing will remain open two additional hours daily. The new permanent hours of operation for the Santa Teresa port will be 6:00 a.m. until midnight, seven days a week.

"The past five years, the port of Santa Teresa has seen a substantial increase in passenger processing workload," said Guillermo "Willie" Rivas, Port Director, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Santa Teresa. "Extending the hours of service by two hours will allow for CBP to take a proactive approach to traffic management, and in addition provide relief to the El Paso border crossings,

The Santa Teresa Port of Entry is located on the western edge of the El Paso/Juarez metroplex. Established in 1993, it is New Mexico's newest and busiest port of entry with Mexico. Approximately 1357 passenger vehicles and close to 100 pedestrians use the Santa Teresa crossing daily.

CBP Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers' primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws.

6:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m., seven days a week (all year round)

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