CBP is issuing fines for SENTRI violations ($5k) at San Ysidro Port of Entry
- March 11, 2022
- Category: Uncategorized
If CBP detects that a person, either as a driver or as a passenger, who is not a SENTRI or Global Entry member is in the SENTRI lane for a third time, CBP is putting that person into secondary inspections. What I have heard is that CBP policy in secondary is that they handcuff the traveler to a bench during this process. CBP may or may not search the traveler’s car. CBP then either confiscates the car and/or fines the person $5,000. Most people know that the roads in Tijuana are a maze and have confusing roundabouts. A common experience I have heard is that Google Maps is directing travelers into the SENTRI lane. Once there, they are essentially trapped. One person relayed to me on the phone that the lanes have barriers. He said he saw locals on the Mexican side who were offering to move the barriers for $500 cash so that travelers do not get hit with the $5k fine. This person related to me that he was under the impression that the locals were doing this with a nudge and wink towards the border CBP guards.
CBP is fining people asserting that they have committed a statutory violation for being in the SENTRI lane improperly. I have started pushing back against CBP on these fines and representing individuals.
Has this happened to you or one of your friends? Please feel free to relay your experiences.
We went to Mexico for a day trip of wine tasting…. As we were crossing the border, my friend, the driver whose google map routed him to sentry lane and there was no way for him to turn around… we asked one of the first CBP officer how to turn around and said just tell the officer at the gate that you made a mistake. So he continued going…I was asleep until we got to the border. I was woken up to show my passport. The next thing you know is they had all of us out of the car. They searched the car. Searched me and had me handcuffed and took me in. I have never been handcuffed in my life and I felt like a criminal for no reason! It was devastating… I also served in the U.S Army for 6 years. I felt violated and mistreated. There were threatened to detained my friends car if I don’t pay up the 5k at the moment. I told them I don’t have that kind of money. One of the CBP Lieutenant officer was like “so, you come to mexico without money?”… I was in the holding area for hours and my friends were in car. One of my friends decided to pay up 1k that night and they finally let us go… they had a lien on my friend’s car and and $4000 bill that I owe…. I have been unemployed since covid and don’t even know how to pay that off. I can’t believe this is actually happening in our country!
If it is within 60 days, you can petition to have CBP reduce the fine. Feel free to contact me directly if you would like representation with this.
Hi what does all means ? at the time of my interview the officer keep asking me if I ever owned a cell phone business and if I ever had used other name(s) I told her never , then she when into her supervisors office and once she came back she already a blue slip in which her supervisor had denied my membership right there and there after she already had approved her self after going to talk to her supervisor . I did summit all the paper she requested under the reconsideration tab , and after 3 months or so I have gotten the below notification .
Please advice .
Thank you for your interest in the SENTRI program of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
A review of your membership by the CBP Ombudsman has been completed. Based on the information you provided, it has been determined that no change is warranted at this time. Please be mindful that being denied from participating in the SENTRI program does not prohibit you from being able to travel.
If you do not know why you were denied, then you will need to submit a request for personal records to the CBP/Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Division, in accordance with federal privacy laws. For additional information about filing a FOIA request with CBP, please visit our website: http://www.cbp.gov/site-policy-notices/foia. Additional program information is available through the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) application website: https://ttp.dhs.gov.
Sincerely,
Ombudsman
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
CBP has denied or revoked SENTRI applicants in the past under a ‘close association is an indication of risk’ basis. How to correct that is anyone’s guess.