GAO Releases Cornyn-Requested Report On Border Ports Of Entry

Press Release

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee, today announced the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has completed a report at his request studying the Administration's handling of overall performance at U.S.-Mexico ports of entry.

"Today's report confirms what local leaders, businesses and residents on the border already know: our southern ports of entry have been neglected for too long. As a result, border wait times are going under-reported or unreported, infrastructure and staff are being stretched too thin and mismanaged, and it is becoming harder and harder to ensure safe and efficient trade and travel.

"Our successful trading relationship with Mexico has the potential to create even more jobs and opportunities for Texans, but our ports of entry must be updated immediately to fully harness that potential. I hope the Obama Administration will heed the GAO's findings and work with me and local leaders to take swift steps to make much-needed improvements at our ports of entry."

Sen. Cornyn is the author of the RESULTS Act, which seeks to improve border security including a proposal aimed at achieving a 50 percent reduction in border port of entry wait times. Sen. Cornyn has also introduced the Cross Border Trade Enhancement Act of 2013 to encourage public-private partnerships to boost staffing and make infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry. Finally, Sen. Cornyn has supported emergency resources for ports of entry along the southwest border.

The GAO report, "U.S. -- Mexico Border: CBP Action Needed to Improve Wait Time Data and Measure Outcomes of Trade Facilitation Efforts," includes the following key findings:

- CBP wait times data is unreliable
- CBP has not assessed the feasibility of wait time automation
- CBP has analyzed infrastructure and staffing needs, but has not documented the methodology used to allocate staff across POEs
- Trade facilitation goals are not well reflected in CBP performance measures

The report's analysis is based on data collected at six U.S.--Mexico border crossings: the Bridge of the Americas and Yselta in El Paso; the World Trade Bridge and Columbia Solidarity Bridge in Laredo; Mariposa in Nogales, AZ; and Otay Mesa near San Diego, CA. Combined, these POEs account for approximately 70 percent of Southwestern border commercial traffic into the U.S.

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