Thread: U.S. expands truck crossing on Mexico border

U.S. expands truck crossing on Mexico border

updated 5/6/2011 1:17:22 PM ET

AUSTIN, Texas — A program to expand the busiest commercial crossing over the U.S.-Mexico border was inaugurated on Friday, nearly doubling the capacity for trucks entering Laredo, Texas, from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, authorities said.

The program increased the number of truck lanes at the World Trade Bridge into Laredo, to 15 from eight, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said.

The expansion also added an additional exit lane for vehicles leaving the facility, which currently handles around 5,000 trucks a day and has been so busy that trucks were delayed several hours.

"It is going to be a tremendous help in trying to lower the wait times for trucks crossing into the U.S.," Gene Garza, director of field operations for CBP's Laredo field office, told Reuters.

"Adding another exit gate will enable us to operate more efficiently," he added.

Mexico is the United States' second largest trading partner after Canada, with bilateral trade worth around $1 billion a day.

Crossings through Laredo connect the industrial powerhouse of Monterrey in northeast Mexico, with the highway networks in south Texas.

The ports of entry also straddles a valuable trafficking corridor for Mexican drug cartels that smuggle cocaine, heroin and marijuana into south Texas from Mexico's Tamaulipas state.

Garza said additional technology and inspection lanes at the crossing would help curb smuggling and "increase security on both sides of the border."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42933064/ns/us_news

I don't want speed and efficiency. I want safety and security and that is not a consideration with this ridiculous program.

Those trucks could be carrying weapons for terrorists and bomb making supplies. And, of course, rapid cross-border transit for drugs. No way will the screening be anything like a child goes through to get on a plane.