Return to the Border: Inside the Calexico Port of Entry – Part 1
CALEXICO, CA (KESQ) - A report by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General indicates that the federal government's focus on immigration investigations may have resulted in fewer resources allocated to fentanyl investigations. The report also found that 90% of interdicted fentanyl entering the United States is stopped directly at designated ports of entry.
The findings come as border officials manage heavy commercial and passenger traffic at two major ports of entry in Calexico, located just over two hours South of the Coachella Valley. Federal agents at these crossings are tasked with inspecting rail and vehicular cargo while maintaining the flow of trade between the United States and Mexico.
At the Calexico ports of entry, border officials rely on specialized non-intrusive inspection technology to scan incoming cargo and vehicles for illegal narcotics and security threats. Bonnie Arellano, Assistant Port Director in Calexico, outlined how new portals help manage the flow of traffic crossing the border. “These are called MEPs. That's multi-energy portals, basically non-intrusive inspection equipment that is set to make the process coming in from Mexico into the United States a lot smoother,” Arellano said.
The two Calexico crossings accommodate billions of dollars in trade, including rail and automobile transport, while processing an average of 20,000 vehicles, carrying 40,000 to 50,000 people daily.
The travelers represent a major economic driver for local businesses and U.S. commerce, with visitors traveling into the country for heavy shopping and tourism destinations. Vehicles selected for secondary inspection undergo comprehensive searches, which can include undercarriage checks and canine sweeps. In one recent secondary inspection, agents uncovered more than 14 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside a vehicle's dashboard.
Vehicles seized during drug interdictions are thoroughly inspected and dismantled before being sent to public auctions. “I refer to every car as a soap opera for the 23-plus years that I've been into this effort,” Arellano said. “If I take all those inspections that way, then I get a chance to get to the bottom of it every single time and that's what we talk about here with the officers.”
Pedestrian inspection lanes are also monitored by officers who inspect documentation for every traveler walking across the border. Arellano emphasized the necessity of strict operational oversight at the physical ports of entry. “It's to control the chaos, right?” Arellano said. “Because if you if you don't have control of the area, then you're in a situation where you get overrun and we can't have that.”
Travelers utilizing the Calexico West port of entry face an average wait time of 58 minutes, though delays can exceed 2 hours during busy periods.
Check Out: Wait Times at Calexico Ports of Entry
Border officials state that wait times at Calexico border crossings are expected to increase in the coming weeks as the regional agricultural season gets underway, bringing an influx of cross-border workers between Mexico and the United States.
See Part Two of John White's I-Team investigation, "Return to the Border," Thursday at 6pm on News Channel 3.
