California ports of entry brace for migrant caravan

CBP is closing several lanes at two California ports as it prepares for the arrival of the migrant caravan moving through Mexico.    U.S. Customs and Border Protection is closing at least three northbound vehicle lanes at San Ysidro and one lane at Otay Mesa in California to install and preposition port hardening infrastructure equipment in preparation for the migrant caravan and potential associated safety and security risks, CBP announced Monday.
   The closures started at 8 a.m. Tuesday and likely won’t end until “sometime after people in the caravan arrive to the border,” CBP said.
   “CBP has been and will continue to prepare for the potential arrival of thousands of people migrating in a caravan heading towards the border of the United States,” Pete Flores, director of field operations in San Diego, said in a statement. “These preparations include training exercises, deploying additional CBP personnel and partnering with the U.S. military to harden our ports of entry and the border area between those legal crossings into the U.S.”
   Defense Department personnel are installing concertina wire and prepositioning jersey barriers, barricades and fencing requested by CBP under Operation Secure Line.
   CBP recommends that people traveling northbound to the U.S. anticipate possible increased wait times because of lane closures.
   “CBP officials in charge at our local border crossings must always maintain security while we work to efficiently process legitimate trade and travel into the U.S.,” Flores said. “The materials will be used to help strengthen border security, to ensure the safety of the American people, the traveling public, CBP personnel and the communities in which we serve.”