By JC Navarette/ABC-7
For practically two years, land borders between Mexico and the USA have been closed to all non-essential journey. Air borders between the international locations, although, have fallen in a gray space — with non-public planes and chartered flights touching down daily in El Paso.
“This can be a direct route and the closest port of entry for a few of these vacationers is El Paso, in Chihuahuas’ case, as a substitute of flying on to Las Vegas, it is going to be faster and sooner in the event that they cease right here after which proceed on their journey (to) clear customs right here,” U.S. Customs and Border Safety Chief Angel Hernandez mentioned.
Greater than 8,600 worldwide passengers and crew have been processed from non-public flights to El Paso Worldwide Airport in 2021, in line with CBP information, which is a 67% improve in comparison with 5,100 passengers processed in 2020. El Paso typically turns into a pit cease for the wealthy and well-known. Hernandez mentioned some flights this fiscal yr additionally introduced Mexican nationals in search of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Mexican nationals have been closely restricted from crossing the U.S. border since March 2020, a part of efforts to sluggish the unfold of COVID-19. Crossings have been permitted for a restricted set of “important” functions. However individuals from Mexico arriving by air — whether or not on industrial or non-public flights — haven’t confronted such restrictions.
The restrictions on land crossings might be lifted Nov. 8 for individuals with correct journey paperwork and proof of vaccination towards COVID-19.
Very similar to CBP inspects autos and foot site visitors, officers on the company examine planes, passengers and their baggage.
“We do have an x-ray machine, we do have a K9 at our disposal, these are all instruments that we use for a layered strategy to examine any form of conveyance on this specific state of affairs it occurs to be non-public plane,” Hernandez mentioned.
Cowl picture: A Mexican chartered aircraft waits to clear customs on the U.S. Customs and Border Safety air facility at El Paso Worldwide Airport. (KVIA-ABC 7 picture)
CBP officers get a transparent image of who they’re coping with in relation to non-public planes. Officers obtain a roster of who’s on board, making it a safer encounter than these on the bridges.
Nearly 9,000 vacationers from Mexico went by the U.S. Customs and Border Safety facility at El Paso Worldwide Airport prior to now yr. (KVIA-ABC 7 picture)
“On the land border, we don’t know the individual, they arrive proper as much as the officer on the land border. Right here, we’re given a one-hour notification of what the conveyance is and who the passengers are on that exact vessel,” Hernandez mentioned.
Hernandez mentioned CBP’s dedication to safe borders stays the identical whether or not or not it’s land or air.
“That’s what our officers do every day on the land border, on the rail, on the airport. … you see everybody that’s our mission to foster commerce by reliable commerce and journey,” Hernandez mentioned.
Cowl picture: A Mexican chartered aircraft waits to clear customs on the U.S. Customs and Border Safety air facility at El Paso Worldwide Airport. (KVIA-ABC 7 picture)
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