Staffing shortages at Mexican customs checkpoints are driving long wait times for motorists entering the country from the United States, according to Humberto Coss y León Zúñiga, a federal lawmaker who oversees maritime and customs-related issues in Congress.
In recent days, drivers have reported waiting several hours to cross into Tijuana during peak travel times, largely because only a limited number of inspection lanes are open, he said.
Coss y León Zúñiga, who chairs the Navy Commission in Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies, said the delays cannot be resolved quickly, as hiring new customs personnel requires training and certification. He added that authorities are already working on both short- and long-term solutions.
Among the planned measures is the hiring of additional staff at land and maritime customs points, along with expanded use of technology to speed up inspections. The goal, he said, is to rely more on automated, non-intrusive screening systems rather than manual checks.
He cautioned that fully implementing these changes will take time and funding.
As a temporary step, customs officials are expected to reduce inspection intensity during the final weeks of the year. Coss y León Zúñiga noted that many holiday travelers stay in Mexico only briefly, a shift authorities believe will help ease congestion and improve traffic flow at border crossings.
