Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge joined Mexican Interior Secretary Santiago Creel today at the Calexico port of entry to formally open dedicated lanes for cargo trucks enrolled in a key U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiative to counter terrorism, improve compliance and facilitate trade on the U.S.-Mexico border. The Free And Secure Trade (FAST) lane leading from Mexico into the Calexico port's east cargo facility is the result of a bilateral initiative that seeks to ensure security and safety while facilitating commerce between the two nations.

"Mexico is one of our largest trading partners and it is critical that we prevent terrorists from infiltrating the commercial chain to launch an attack," said Secretary Ridge. "This lane will enhance the security and safety of the commercial flow of goods along the Southern border, while enhancing the economic prosperity of both countries."

This is one of the very positive results of the U.S.-Mexico Border Partnership. We are jointly implementing mechanisms that correctly balance security, trade and migration. We are acting responsibly and facing our new joint challenges as good neighbors, trade partners and friends do. Through these joint efforts we are protecting our economic prosperity and providing enhanced security to our people, has said Secretary Creel.

FAST is an expedited clearance program for known low-risk cargo shipments through which Mexico and the United States have agreed to harmonize processes for clearance of commercial shipments in accordance with the U.S.-Mexico Border Partnership Declaration. The Calexico port of entry has enrolled almost 500 qualified drivers so far and CBP continues to promote the program through outreach programs to the commercial trade community.

Calexico is the sixth Southern border port of entry to dedicate a FAST lane. In October 2004, the port of Otay Mesa became the first on the California-Mexico border to open a FAST lane. Similar lanes have opened at ports of entry in Laredo, Pharr, Brownsville and El Paso, Texas. These ports are the largest cargo facilities on the Southern border and together account for over 90 percent of the commercial traffic on the U.S.-Mexico border.