Northbound crossing times improve at Presidio port

January 31st, 2013

By ALBERTO TOMAS HALPERN

PRESIDIO, OJINAGA – For many border residents, crossing back and forth between the United States and Mexico has become a daily routine. With the inevitability of globalization shaping lives and businesses, it’s all too easy to forget about international borders. That is, of course, until you’ve spent two hours or more in …

Dismay, economic concern greet USDA cattle inspection facility move

December 20th, 2012

By JEFF MATHEIS, JOHN DANIEL GARCIA, ALBERTO TOMAS HALPERN

PRESIDIO, OJINAGA – Cattle crossing has been a high economic contributor to the Presidio, Texas and Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico communities for nearly 80 years. The ports of entry are the oldest cattle import location in the United States and are currently the only direct entrance from the …

Border Patrol to inspect buses at checkpoints, school officials told

December 10th, 2012

By ALBERTO TOMAS HALPERN

MARFA – Representatives from area public schools sat down with U.S. Border Patrol Big Bend Sector officials last Thursday to discuss the agency’s policy regarding school bus inspections at checkpoints following the recent incident where nearly 500 pounds of marijuana was discovered on a Van Horn school bus in Marfa.

“Our objective is …

New director takes command of Presidio port of entry

November 29th, 2012

By ROBERT HALPERN

PRESIDIO – Presidio’s new port of entry director may be a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Customs Service (now U.S. Customs and Border Protection), having served both on the northern and southern borders of the United States, at the port city of Houston, at headquarters in Washington, DC, and as an instructor at …

Customs names new Presidio port director

November 21st, 2012

PRESIDIO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has named David Lambrix as the new Port Director at the Presidio Port of Entry.

Lambrix replaces John Prewit who retired from CBP this summer. Lambrix arrived at the port of entry November 4.

A formal change of command ceremony is planned for December 6. Before receiving his current …

Border issues

October 4th, 2012

New study needed to shine light on border port wait times

By NELSON BALIDO

To take a tour of a port of entry connecting the U.S. and Canada or the U.S. and Mexico is to get a glimpse of the latest in cutting edge technology.

For example, there are industrial strength x-ray machines – called VACIS …

Bridge expansion top project in la frontera

January 19th, 2012

By ROBERT HALPERN

CIUDAD CHIHUAHUA, Mex. – The international vehicle bridge expansion between Ojinaga and Presidio is a top priority for economic developers in the state of Chihuahua this year, a member of the group said this week.

Retired U.S. Customs Service officer and Realtor Bob Wright of Marfa took part in the annual meeting of Consejo …

Illegal immigrant apprehensions down, narcotics seizures up

December 15th, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC, MARFA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection this week released the agency’s fiscal year 2011 summary of CBP enforcement and border management efforts. The Big Bend Border Patrol Sector and the El Paso Field Office, which includes the Presidio port of entry, also released summaries.

“In 2011, CBP has contributed to our nation’s homeland …

Customs gets 2nd drone

November 3rd, 2011

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has received a second Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Predator-B at the Naval Air Security (NAS) Operations Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, the first of two UAS’s funded through the FY 2010 Southwest Border Security Bill Supplemental.

The UAS will provide critical aerial surveillance for U.S. Border Patrol …