The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a public-private partnership with Dell, Inc. to fund additional hours of operation for south-bound commercial traffic at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry (POE). Dell, Inc. will fund four additional hours of commercial operation, Monday through Friday, at the Santa Teresa POE for one year under the CBP’s new Reimbursable Services Program.

The announcement is welcome news and comes on the heels of a Commerce Department study that found New Mexico is the fastest-growing state in the country for jobs related to international exports.

The public-private partnership will help grow the New Mexico Borderplex and provide a viable alternative to the often long wait times for commercial traffic crossing to Mexico via El Paso, Texas. It is anticipated that other regional stakeholders will take advantage of the extended hours.