Long border waits return after smooth reopening this month (2024)

Table of Contents

Border opens to Mexican travelers after nearly two years of COVID restrictions Covering the issues, politics, culture and lifestyle of the Latino community in L.A., California and beyond. More to Read Tired and confused, first migrants reach California border after Biden’s asylum order Opinion: How to turn down the pressure on the southern border GOP governors return to Texas border site; many migrants move downriver to cross More to Read Tired and confused, first migrants reach California border after Biden’s asylum order Opinion: How to turn down the pressure on the southern border GOP governors return to Texas border site; many migrants move downriver to cross More to Read Tired and confused, first migrants reach California border after Biden’s asylum order Opinion: How to turn down the pressure on the southern border GOP governors return to Texas border site; many migrants move downriver to cross U.S. sees a drop in illegal border crossings after Mexico increases enforcement Mexican officials clear border camp as U.S. pressure mounts to limit migrant crossings Migrants struggle against the elements in San Diego’s open-air desert camps Illegal border crossings into U.S. drop in October after 3 months of increases Razor wire and soldiers fail to deter migrants: ‘They say it’s easier to get in with kids’ Some U.S. border crossings still shut as cities and agents deal with increase in migrants FAQs References

BAJA CALIFORNIA, Mexico—

Border wait times are back with a vengeance after the U.S.-Mexico border reopened smoothly to nonessential travel this month.

Weekend warriors took to social media to report brutal lines in the days after Black Friday, with several people saying they had to ditch their place to make a run for the bathroom after waiting several hours to cross.

By midday Tuesday, the weekend traffic had dissipated, but daily border crossers expressed their annoyance.

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“I think it’s so frustrating because there’s just nothing you can really do about it. If you have to be at work, you just have to get up early and wait, what else can you do?” said Claudia Vallemoreno, a 48-year-old from Baja California.

“La línea es la línea,” she added, laughing. It’s a phrase regular border crossers often use to note the futility of complaining: “The line is the line.”

California

Border opens to Mexican travelers after nearly two years of COVID restrictions

Lines weren’t as long as expected in Tijuana, and traffic moved steadily through the early morning.

Nov. 8, 2021

Telemundo 20’s border-wait reporting function on its phone application showed a wait of more than two hours about 6 a.m. Tuesday in the Ready Lane, a dedicated lane for travelers entering the U.S. at land border ports of entry with identification that contains a radio frequency identification chip. It’s typically used by more frequent border crossers such as essential workers.

Tijuana resident Arturo Avilar, 30, said Tuesday that he was relieved to finally get his SENTRI card, a special expedited processing card for travelers who are considered low-risk.

“I really don’t know what I would do without it,” said Avilar, who added that the lines haven’t been as bad as he expected with the border reopening. “I’ve been crossing the border daily for the past three weeks, and I really don’t think I could have done it without the SENTRI. It’s taken my daily wait down from two hours to under 40 minutes.”

The border reopened Nov. 8 with shorter lines and less traffic than anticipated, leaving international land travelers pleased. But traffic began creeping up just days later, prompting questions about the use of resources and staffing shortages at Customs and Border Protection, the agency that staffs the checkpoint booths.

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Covering the issues, politics, culture and lifestyle of the Latino community in L.A., California and beyond.

Increases in staffing have not kept pace with upgrades to infrastructure at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry, Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) said.

From 2004 to 2015, the U.S. government spent $741 million to sharply expand and improve the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The 62 northbound inspection booths spread out over 34 lanes were supposed to speed up border crossings, but that has not panned out.

FAQs

Why is the San Ysidro border so slow? ›

SAN DIEGO — People are waiting longer to cross into Mexico at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and experts say you can blame a coincidence in timing. On top of sheer numbers of people crossing, experts say several infrastructure projects on the Mexican side, happening at the same time, are clogging up the traffic flow.

How many people cross the San Ysidro border every day? ›

More than 100,000 people cross the San Ysidro border crossing every day. Roughly a quarter of them use one of two pedestrian border crossings.

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What is the Tijuana border crossing called? ›

El Chaparral (San Ysidro)

The El Chaparral Port of Entry (Puerto Fronterizo El Chaparral) is the main vehicle crossing point into Tijuana, replacing the former entry point known as Puerta México.

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Does Mexico have border patrol? ›

Mexico does not have a border patrol. The security perimeter on the border is mostly in the hands of the Mexican military and, in particular, the Mexican navy. And they have a very strong presence in that area, and there's not an open-border policy. There's not a 'looking-the-other-way.

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Which border is faster Otay or San Ysidro? ›

The traditional San Ysidro crossing is the larger and busier of the two - on Sunday afternoons and on holidays expect at least a one hour wait at the crossing (it could be shorter or longer). While Otay Mesa is quicker to cross, it is more difficult to reach on the Tijuana side.

What is the best time to cross the border from Tijuana to San Diego driving? ›

The best time to cross from Tijuana to San Diego is the early morning 4:am to 6:am. If you're the early bird, you'll get the worm, or the tacos in this case. Try to get to San Ysidro at 4 a.m. to begin the process. The other times to avoid, if possible, would be weekends and holidays.

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What is the busiest US-Mexico border crossing? ›

The San Ysidro Land Port of Entry (LPOE) is the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere; currently processing an average of 70,000 northbound vehicle passengers and 20,000 northbound pedestrians per day.

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Which is the busiest border in the world? ›

The 1,951 mile U.S.-Mexico border is the busiest in the world. Each year the our southern border allows in more than 300 million people, approximately 90 million cars, and 4.3 million truck crossings.

Can I walk to Tijuana from San Diego? ›

The most easily accessible border crossing between the hubs of Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, California, can be crossed by foot or via the connected El Chaparral vehicle crossing point, providing access for long and short-term travelers.

Does the Mexican border check your car? ›

Law enforcement officers at the border can search your vehicle or your baggage without any reasonable suspicion or your permission provided the searches are routine. If your property contains contraband or evidence of a crime, the law enforcement officers at the border can take that property away.

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Does the Mexican border check for warrants? ›

If you mean that there is a warrant out against you then you being able to cross the border legally is doubtful. The Mexican officials at the port of entry check their computer data bases for such things before they allow you in.

What is the fastest way to cross the San Ysidro border? ›

Fast Lane (aka Medical Lane) - San Ysidro, CA Only

This lane allows you to enter the border line at a designated entrance with your one-time use Fast Pass, cutting off a significant portion of the border line. A police officer at the entrance booth will take your Fast Pass and allow you to proceed.

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Is San Ysidro the busiest border crossing? ›

The San Ysidro Land Port of Entry (LPOE) is the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere; currently processing an average of 70,000 northbound vehicle passengers and 20,000 northbound pedestrians per day.