Las Cruces Sun-News: CBP approves expanded hours at Santa Teresa port

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Tuesday that it would expand hours of operation for south-bound commercial traffic at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry as part of a public-private partnership with Dell Computers.

Dell will be funding four additional hours for southbound commercial traffic Monday through Friday for one year, according to a news release from U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

The Reimbursable Services Program allows private companies to enter into agreements with the government to expand services on a reimbursable basis.

Last month, Udall and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. sent a letter of support for Dell's application to CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske and invited him to tour the Santa Teresa POE and border industrial zone in southern New Mexico to see firsthand how federal and private investments in the region have improved interstate commerce and bolstered the local economy.

"Our state's border region is a bright spot in our economy," Heinrich said. "By collaborating with strong private sector partners, such as Dell, we can capitalize on that momentum and increase trade, create new jobs, and diversify New Mexico's economy,"

"I supported this expansion to help grow southern New Mexico as an epicenter for international trade, and I look forward to visiting the Santa Teresa Port of Entry soon to continue working to expand commercial opportunities in the region," Udall said.