Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and James Risch (R-ID) joined their Senate colleagues in requesting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Executive Assistant Commissioner Pete Flores to expand hours of operation at ports of entry in North Dakota and other northern states to, at a minimum, match the operating hours with their adjacent Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) ports. The senators also asked CBP to provide a response within 30 days from receiving the letter.
“These ports of entry serve a vital role in connecting our states’ economies with Canada, and our constituents heavily rely on them for commerce, tourism, religious activities, trade, travel, health care, tribal connections, and more,” wrote the senators. “The mismatched and uncoordinated hours are causing confusion and frustration across the northern border.”
“We believe when the border hours are extended to at a minimum, match adjacent CBSA ports, vehicular and pedestrian traffic will increase to match, if not exceed, pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, we stand ready to support your efforts to provide additional resources to CBP officers who currently are working hard to secure the northern border, to improve CBP recruitment, retention, and staffing levels, and to boost security along the northern and southern border to prevent illegal immigration,” concluded the senators.
Joining Senators Cramer and Risch are Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jon Tester (D-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), and U.S. Congressmen Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), and Matt Rosendale (R-MT).
Click here to read the letter.