U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is opening traffic lanes and expanding hours in anticipation of an overnight surge in traffic across the border into the U.S. for Mother’s Day.
“Mother’s Day is a time when many people will cross the border to spend time with their loved ones,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha. “One area of added emphasis is the 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. period from Saturday night into Sunday morning.”
The move is part of CBP’s “All Lanes Open Initiative” (ALOI). CBP announced that the city of El Paso is providing additional public-private partnership funding to CBP during the Mother’s Day weekend period to allow the agency to open even more lanes than usual during specific times at designated crossings at the El Paso port of entry.
CBP introduced the ALOI at the El Paso port of entry more than two years ago. Under this initiative, CBP normally staffs all vehicular and pedestrian lanes between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. All lanes are open Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and on Sundays from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. – but, for the Mother’s Day weekend, the Sunday hours have been adjusted and expanded to meet anticipated demand earlier in the day.