By José Antonio Pérez / Shandra Keesecker-Rivero
In December, the Puerto Peñasco Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV) gathered 1200 signatures in support of opening a SENTRI line at the Lukeville-Sonoyta port of entry.
OCV Director Lizette Ibarra noted the positive response to the petition both within Puerto Peñasco itself, including sign-up spots at area businesses and resorts, as well as at the Sonoyta crossing.
Ibarra expressed the next step is to send the collected signatures to the offices U.S. Customs and Border Protection in hopes this initiative may one day come to fruition.
It is worth noting, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection) is one of the Trusted Traveler Programs that allow expedited clearance for “pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Participants may enter the United States by using dedicated primary lanes into the United States at Southern land border ports.”
Travelers must be pre-approved for the SENTRI program. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment.