U.S. General Services Administration
Government Officials Hold Ribbon Cutting for New Columbus Port of Entry
Modernization supports U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s mission
COLUMBUS, NM - The U.S. General Services Administration along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Senator Tom Udall’s office, Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small, and the Mayor of the Village of Columbus joined for a ribbon cutting event to dedicate the new Columbus Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in New Mexico. The dedication marked the completion of GSA’s project to replace the old LPOE with new state of the art facilities. The new port will better assist CPB in fulfilling its mission to safeguard America’s borders while enhancing the nation’s global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel.
“A core part of GSA’s mission is to deliver value and savings in real estate to government and the American taxpayer,” said GSA Regional Administrator Bobby Babcock. “Through the partnerships we’ve developed with CBP and local stakeholders, the new Columbus LPOE will be a 21st century facility that supports port operations, the local economy, and the community of users who pass through it daily.”
“The Columbus port of entry plays an important role in fostering legitimate trade and travel in New Mexico,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha. “This new facility ushers in a new era and will allow CBP officers to effectively process the ever increasing volume of travelers and commercial trade crossing the border while we maintain our vital homeland security mission.”
The previous facility was built in 1989 and was designed to accommodate visitors and a few commercial vehicles entering the United States. Since that time, the port gained significance in agricultural trade and the number of daily crossings, including pedestrian traffic, increased substantially.
Improvements to the Columbus LPOE include:
- New administration building with expanded pedestrian inspection area
- Primary and secondary passenger vehicle inspection facilities
- Commercial primary and exit booths
- Cargo building and dock connected to the administration building
- Expanded outside vehicle parking
- Seized vehicle processing area
- Kennel
- Export cargo booths
- Bulk cargo area
- Hazardous materials containment area.
Additionally, the following areas were expanded:
- Three privately owned vehicle lanes; previously two lanes
- One commercial lane; previously no commercial lanes
- Two pedestrian lanes; previously one lane
- 14 commercial dock spaces; previously six spaces
About GSA: The mission of the U.S. General Services Administration is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government. One of GSA’s four strategic goals is to save taxpayer money through better management of federal real estate.
###