Return to the Border: Inside the Calexico Port of Entry

CALEXICO, CA (KESQ) - The U.S.-Mexico border is just a two-hour drive from the Coachella Valley, putting the region close to the front lines of border security and international trade.

News Channel 3's John White returned to Calexico to see how Customs and Border Protection is working to stop illegal drugs from entering the U.S., the technology officers use, and how the agency helps keep legitimate trade and travel moving.

Office of Inspector General Report:  https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2026-08/OIG-26-23-Aug26.pdf

Bonnie Arellano, an assistant port director, said the Calexico port handles roughly 20,000 vehicles a day, with about 40,000 to 45,000 people traveling through the vehicle lanes.

Check Out - Wait Times at Calexico Ports of Entry: https://bwt.cbp.gov/details/09250302/POV

Thousands more cross on foot for shopping, business and other activities.

John White's report examines how CBP balances border security with the movement of people and commerce between the two countries.

See Part One of John White's I-Team investigation, "Return to the Border," tonight at 6pm on News Channel 3.