Updates

CBP El Paso Implements 'Ready Lane' Pilot Program

El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced today a pilot program at El Paso port of entry/Ysleta international crossing for travelers with approved Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) Radio Frequencyentification (RFID) technology-enabled travel documents. The pilot program will start Sunday, December 19 and run for 90 days.

The “Ready Lane” will be open to the traveling public from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily on lanes 9 and 10 at the Ysleta crossing. The Ready Lane is a primary vehicle lane that only accepts WHTI-compliant RFID-enabled documents.

“CBP officers have been distributing flyers to travelers to help educate them about this pending change,” said Bill Molaski, CBP El Paso port director. “We will also have signage at the port directing drivers to the proper lanes. The city of El Paso and our counterparts in Mexico are also providing valuable assistance to help drivers use this lane.”

Since implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, June 1, 2009, U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the United States by land or sea from Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, are required to present a valid, WHTI-compliant document.

“Processing travelers with RFID documents is faster than processing documents that are not RFID-enabled,” said Molaski. “RFID technology facilitates travel across the land border because CBP officers do not have to manually enter traveler information during the primary inspection.”

WHTI-compliant, RFID-enabled travel documents reduce the time it takes to process travelers at the border. The U.S. Passport card, the new Legal Permanent Resident “green card” and the new Border Crossing Card are RFID-enabled.

In order to use this dedicated lane, all adult passengers over the age of 16 must present one of the approved travel documents.

Travelers using the “Ready Lane” are reminded the three simple steps to follow as they approach a U.S. land port of entry with their RFID-enabled travel card:

  • Stop at the entry to the inspection lane and wait for a signal to move forward.
  • Each passenger removes his or her travel card from its protective sleeve and holds it up, with the flat front face of the card toward a window on the driver’s side. The RFID-enabled cards will be read automatically while the vehicle proceeds to the inspection booth.
  • Stop at the inspection booth and be prepared to present documents for all travelers in the vehicle to the CBP officer.

CBP continues to strongly encourage travelers to obtain RFID-enabled travel to expedite their entry and to help make the borders more efficient.

WHTI is the joint Department of State-Department of Homeland Security plan that implemented a key 9/11 Commission recommendation to establish document requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda.

For more information, please visit GetYouHome.gov.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

For more information, contact: Roger Maier, CBP Public Affairs Phone: (915) 633-7300 Ext: 122