SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Another “security filter” will be installed at a San Diego-Tijuana port of entry where northbound border commuters must show their legal documents to Tijuana police or Mexican Customs officers.
This one will be operational beginning 2025 at Otay Mesa, according to Pedro Montejo Peterson, Tijuana’s Secretary of Economic Development.
“We just held a meeting on Tuesday with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and showed them how at the first filter we installed at San Ysidro, we have not had any instances of undocumented migrants trying to unlawfully enter the U.S.,” Montejo Peterson said. “We’re trying to have the filters on all lanes at San Ysidro and now at Otay.”
Currently, CBP officers conduct these preliminary document checks to prevent anyone without legal status from approaching the actual inspection gates.
Montejo Peterson believes the U.S. officers would be better deployed to the actual gates as a way to open more traffic lanes and thus expediting crossing times.
He wants Mexican police officers and customs agents to be in charge of the initial screenings freeing up their American counterparts.
But CBP has been skeptical of the idea and has yet to commit to it.
Montejo Peterson is sure their plan will work.
“The officers can do these preliminary inspections, we’re already showing evidence they can work, we just have to convince the Americans it’s worth a try.”
The same practice was put in place two years ago, but it ended a few weeks later when CBP showed very little interest.
The agency has said in the past that it’s always considering new methods to improve border crossings like San Ysidro: “CBP’s San Ysidro Port of Entry is always in a continuous state of assessment, discussing and searching for the most effective ways to fully improve traffic flows and national security to the extent resources allow. This includes, when appropriate, leveraging the outstanding partnerships SYS has with local governments in Mexico.”
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