Travel Checkpoints: States With The Strictest Border Controls

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operates a multi-layered enforcement strategy to detect and apprehend potential terrorists, illegal immigrants, and smugglers of contraband. This strategy includes the use of permanent and tactical checkpoints.

Permanent checkpoints are placed at locations that are intended to maximise the chances of detecting illegal immigrants and smugglers who have crossed the border illegally and are seeking to reach large population centres. They are generally located on major and secondary roads, usually 25 to 75 miles inland from the border.

Tactical checkpoints are intended to supplement permanent checkpoints by monitoring and inspecting traffic on secondary roads that can be used to evade the permanent checkpoints. The number and location of tactical checkpoints can change on a daily basis, depending on a combination of available resources and intelligence about illegal entrants' routes.

The following states have permanent checkpoints:

- California

- Texas

- New York

The TSA PreCheck program expedites traveler screening through participating TSA security checkpoints

The TSA PreCheck program is a service that expedites traveler screening through participating TSA security checkpoints. It is available at more than 200 airports and 90+ airlines.

To enroll in TSA PreCheck, you can follow these three steps:

• Select an enrollment provider with enrollment locations near you.
• Submit your TSA PreCheck application online in as little as 5 minutes.
• Visit an enrollment location to complete enrollment in 10 minutes. This includes fingerprinting, document and photo capture, and payment.

Once approved, you will receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that you can add to your airline reservations.

TSA PreCheck benefits include waiting 10 minutes or less, with about 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers waiting less than 10 minutes. Children 17 and under can also join an adult with TSA PreCheck when it appears on the child's boarding pass. Additionally, there is no need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, or light jackets at TSA checkpoints.

TSA PreCheck costs $77.95 at Clear enrollment locations, $78 at Idemia (a third-party enrollment center), and $85 at Telos (another third-party enrollment center). The fee is worth it for frequent travelers due to shorter lines and a streamlined screening process. The membership lasts for five years, after which you can renew your membership online by filling out a form and paying the renewal fee of $70.

Global Entry allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the U.S

Global Entry is a program by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the United States. Members can enter the U.S. by accessing Global Entry processing technology at selected airports.

At the airport, program members proceed to the Global Entry lanes, where processing technology will be used to expedite their entry. A photo will be captured to verify their membership, after which they will receive on-screen instructions and proceed to a CBP officer who will confirm their completion of the process.

All applicants must undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrolment. If travellers are unable to schedule an interview at an Enrolment Centre prior to their international travel, they can complete their interview via Enrolment on Arrival when they arrive in the U.S.

The Global Entry Mobile App is an upcoming option for travellers to validate their arrival to the U.S. on their iOS or Android device before entering the Federal Inspection Services area. While Global Entry aims to speed travellers through the process, members may still be selected for further examination when entering the country.

The NEXUS program allows pre-screened travelers expedited processing when entering the U.S. and Canada

The NEXUS program is a trusted traveller program that allows pre-screened travellers expedited processing when entering the United States and Canada. Membership requires a thorough background check and interview and, once approved, travellers can use dedicated lanes and kiosks for quicker entry into either country.

NEXUS members can use dedicated processing lanes at designated northern border ports of entry, NEXUS kiosks when entering Canada by air, and Global Entry kiosks when entering the US via Canadian Preclearance airports. NEXUS members also receive expedited processing at marine reporting locations.

The program costs \$50 for a five-year membership and can be paid for online. Applicants will then undergo an in-person interview with both Canadian and US border officials.

NEXUS is one of five Trusted Traveller programs available, four of which are designed for business and personal travellers. The fifth program, FAST, is designed for commercial trucking.

The Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) is a program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the U.S

SENTRI is a component of the Port Passenger Accelerated Service System (PORTPASS) and is used at selected border crossings, such as the U.S.-Mexico border in California and Texas. The program is designed to identify pre-approved, low-risk international travelers using a combination of biometric measurements and encodable data, allowing inspectors to focus more on high-risk entrants.

To be eligible for the SENTRI program, travelers must undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview. Applicants are fingerprinted, and their immigration status and criminal record are verified. Once approved, participants can enter the U.S. using dedicated primary lanes at Southern land border ports.

SENTRI features dedicated commuter lanes and utilizes various technologies, including digital license plate readers and camera scans, to validate the identity of vehicles and their occupants against approved participant databases. This automated entry system ensures efficient and secure border crossings for pre-approved travelers.

The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) is a commercial clearance program for known low-risk shipments entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico

The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program is a joint initiative between the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It is a commercial clearance program that allows expedited processing for known low-risk shipments entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. The program was initiated after the 9/11 attacks to enhance border and trade chain security and reduce delays.

FAST is a trusted traveller/trusted shipper program that requires participants to undergo background checks and fulfil certain eligibility requirements. All links in the supply chain, from manufacturer to carrier to driver to importer, must be certified under the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program. This includes undergoing risk assessments to be identified as low risk, enabling border control officers to focus their resources on travellers of high or unknown risk.

To use FAST lanes into Canada, carriers and importers must be authorised under the Partners in Protection (PIP) program or both the Customs Self Assessment (CSA) program and the PIP program. The driver must have a valid FAST card or Commercial Driver Registration Program (CDRP) card. It is important to note that CDRP cards are only valid for entry into Canada, as they are a Canadian program. In contrast, FAST is a joint initiative between the U.S. and Canada, so its driver membership cards are recognised on both sides of the border.

Dedicated FAST lanes are available at land border ports of entry for commercial cargo, with the majority located in northern border ports in Michigan, New York, and Washington, as well as at southern border ports from California to Texas. When a FAST-approved driver arrives at the border, they present bar-coded documents for each participating party (the driver, carrier, and importer) to the border services officer, allowing for expedited processing.

The FAST program offers several benefits, including reduced information requirements for border/customs clearance, dedicated lanes for FAST clearances, reduced rates of border examinations, and streamlined accounting and payment for approved importers in Canada. It is worth noting that each country must approve carriers and importers separately, so a FAST importer and/or carrier can choose to be approved for entry into Canada or the U.S. only.

Frequently asked questions