Feds ask travelers to prepare as summer vacation begins

PROGRESO — Make sure your documents are in order and be prepared to declare all goods and products imported to the United States — otherwise you’ll likely face a fine and can even be deported.

Those two tips are essential to keeping traffic flowing smoothly at the international ports of entry as the summer season kicks off with Memorial Day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said Thursday morning at the Progreso International Bridge.

An influx of people crossing the border is expected, which might affect bridge wait times, as officers will continue to perform thorough inspections — even during busy holiday periods, CBP officers warned.

Being a prepared traveler, however, should help ease the flow. That includes enrolling in a trusted traveler program — such as SENTRI, NEXUS or Global Entry — knowing prohibited items and having permits and other necessary documentation in order.

“The free flow of people over the border is crucial to the economies of both Mexico and the United States,” said Michael Barkin, U.S. consul of the consulate in Matamoros. One million people cross the southern border and more than $1 billion in commerce is traded between the two countries each day, he added.

But while federal and local authorities tried to maintain the focus on how to expedite travel, the violence across the border quickly took center stage.

“Mexico is undergoing a difficult period,” Barkin said.

In 2010, more than 100 U.S. citizens died in Mexico as a result of drug war violence and his office has recently received several reports of missing Americans in the country, he said, but would not comment on how many.

The U.S. Department of State and CBP — which falls under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security — have a shared responsibility to protect the border and facilitate international travel, Barkin said. But the State Department has an additional obligation to keep American citizens informed of the risks of traveling abroad, he added.

Americans, however, have informational tools at their disposal as more than 500 officers are stationed across Mexico and more are in other countries to alert authorities about the travel risks associated throughout different regions, he said.

“We have an extensive program of travel warnings and advisories that cover the entire world,” Barkin said. “Every single country has an advisory and warning. There are places in every country that present risks to travelers.”

Barkin, however, said traveling on Mexican highways is not safe, as specified in the advisory that can be found at www.state.gov. He encouraged all travelers to visit the site and journey with caution.

For additional information, visit www.cbp.gov/travel.